Urgent call: Stand in solidarity with Omar Nayef Zayed, former Palestinian prisoner targeted for extradition

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The campaign in solidarity with Omar Nayef Zayed issued an urgent call to intensify events, protests and activities of solidarity with the former Palestinian prisoner in the coming days, including protests at Bulgarian embassies and consulates and European Union offices, in order to defend his safety and freedom. Omar Nayef Zayed, who escaped Israeli occupation imprisonment in 1990 after a 40-day hunger strike, has lived in Bulgaria for the past 22 years. He is being sought for extradition by the occupation authorities, who have asked Bulgaria to turn Zayed over. We must escalate our protests now to demand Bulgaria reject the Israeli occupation’s attempt to use Bulgarian and European forces to further oppress a Palestinian political prisoner.

The coming days and weeks are crucial for the case of Omar Nayef Zayed, and it is critical to continue popular campaigns, demonstrations and marches inside and outside Palestine, petitioning, statements and articles and social media campaigns in support of this former Palestinian prisoner. Protesting outside Bulgarian consulates and embassies is particularly important, to demand that Bulgaria reject the extradition of Omar Nayef Zayed to the Israeli occupation and instead protect him, a Bulgarian resident and husband and father to Bulgarian citizens.

Urgent and immediate action is necessary to protect the life of Omar Nayef Zayed, who has taken refuge in the Palestinian embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. He faces a true and grave danger, and Palestinian, Arab and international support and solidarity is critical to highlight his case and protect his freedom. His case has serious implications for Palestinians everywhere, especially former prisoners and veteran strugglers.

بيان هام / عاجل : صادر عن حملة التضامن مع المناضل عمر النايف

دعت حملة التضامن مع الاسير المحرر عمر النايف إلى تكثيف فعاليات ونشاطات التضامن مع المناضل النايف وعائلته خلال الأيام والأسابيع القادمة والاعتصام أمام السفارات البلغارية، ومقار الاتحاد الأوروبي والهيئات الحقوقية والدولية، وذلك من أجل ضمان سلامته وحريته ووقف ملاحقته من قبل سلطات الاحتلال التي تسعى للضغط على بلغاريا لإبعاده وتسليمه للسلطات الاسرائيلية بهدف إعادة محاكمته.

وقالت الحملة في بيان صادر عنها اليوم الخميس ” أن الأيام والأسابيع القادمة ستكون حاسمة في تطور قضية عمر النايف”، مؤكدة على أهمية ” تواصل الحملات الشعبية، وتنظيم المظاهرات والمسيرات في الوطن والشتات، وكتابة العرائض والبيانات والمقالات ونشر أخبار الحملة من خلال وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، وتنظيم الاعتصامات الجماهيرية أمام السفارات البلغارية على وجه الخصوص للمطالبة بوقف إبعاده أو تسليمه للاحتلال.”

وأشارت الحملة في بيانها إلى ضرورة ” التحرك العاجل والفوري من أجل إنقاذ حياة المناضل النايف ” الذي لجأ إلى السفارة الفلسطينية في صوفيا ببلغاريا طلباً لممارسة حقه في الحماية والرعاية السياسية والقانونية .

كما أشارت مصادر الحملة أن حياة النايف أصبحت اليوم في خطر داهم وحقيقي.

ويطالب الأسير المحرر عمر النايف بأن تتوقف حملة الملاحقة بحقه، وأن يبقى إلى جانب عائلته في بلغاريا حيث يقيم ويعمل منذ نحو 22 سنة .

The following resources, prepared by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, can be used by individuals, groups and organizations advocating for justice for Omar Nayef Zayed:

• Toolkit for Activists: Information Packet, Action Guide (Download PDF)
• Download Leaflet/Flyer (Download PDF)
• Information Packet on the Omar Nayef Zayed Case (Download PDF)
• Factsheet on Omar Nayef Zayed (Download PDF)

Take Action:

1. CALL IN TO THE BULGARIAN EMBASSY IN YOUR COUNTRY.

Key Phone Numbers:
Washington, DC:  +1 (202)387-0174;
London: +44 20 7581 3144
Ottawa: +1 613 789 3215
EU Mission in Brussels: +32 2 2358300

Other Bulgarian embassy numbers available here:  http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/bulgaria

Make the following points:

• You are calling about the case of Omar Nayef Zayed, a Palestinian in Bulgaria facing extradition to Israel.
• Bulgaria should not extradite Omar Nayef Zayed to Israel and should stop all efforts and cancel all warrants for his arrest, imprisonment or extradition
• Omar was a former Palestinian political prisoner. Omar’s case is a political matter that is excluded from the European Convention on Extradition.
• Omar’s wife and children have the right to life with their husband and father. Bulgaria should not be ripping apart a family to send their father to be a political prisoner again.

2. ORGANIZE A LETTER DELIVERY TO THE BULGARIAN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE IN YOUR COUNTRY OR CITY.

Go with other members of your Palestine solidarity group, prisoner justice advocates, or concerned residents of your area to the Bulgarian embassy as a delegation to deliver a letter calling on Bulgaria not to extradite Omar Nayef Zayed.

•  You can ask for a meeting, but you don’t have to: the important thing is to have a visible group to hand-deliver your letter.
• A draft letter is provided here. Please feel free to modify, or write your own letter. You can ask for signatures from other individuals or groups in your area who are concerned about Palestine, unjust imprisonment or social justice issues more broadly. You can also read the letter sent by the Palestine Subcommittee of the US National Lawyers Guild by clicking here.
• Personal delivery of such a letter does make an impact! Please also take pictures of your letter delivery and send them to [email protected].
• A list of Bulgarian embassies and consulates is available here:  http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/bulgaria
• Download the draft letter: https://samidoun.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bulgaria_Letter.doc

3. PROTEST OUTSIDE THE BULGARIAN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE IN YOUR COUNTRY OR CITY
Inminds in London is organizing a protest outside the Bulgarian embassy in the UK on Friday, 8 January – kicking off the week of action. Events like these in cities with Bulgarian consulates are very important.

• You can do this with a small group or a large group – even a small picket will be noticed. Please take pictures and send them to [email protected]!
• You can also combine this with a letter delivery – send in a delegation to deliver your official letter before or after your picket/protest.
• The more events like this around the world at various embassies and consulates, the more the Bulgarian government will realize that Omar’s case has international significance and support and must be taken seriously.

4. CONTINUE TO SEND EMAILS AND LETTERS AND SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Hundreds of you have already emailed the Bulgarian government urging them to reject the extradition of Omar Nayef Zayed. Thank you, and please continue to do so here: https://samidoun.net/2015/12/urgent-action-stop-extradition-of-omar-nayef-zayed-former-palestinian-prisoner-from-bulgaria/

The events above are very important – visible contact, physical letters and audible phone calls make an even stronger impact. But all of your emails are also critically important to make it clear that Omar has support and friends around the world who want to see him free and safe with his family.

Share the Justice for Omar Nayef Zayed facebook pages (English) and (Arabic) and this alert – spread the word to your colleagues and comrades. The more voices that are heard, the louder Omar’s call for justice becomes.