“The Palestinian cause is not a cause for Palestinians only, but a cause for every revolutionary, wherever they are, as a cause of the exploited and oppressed masses in our era.” – Ghassan Kanafani
Palestinian prisoner Bilal Kayed has now been on hunger strike since the morning of 15 June, demanding his freedom. On 13 June, he was slated for release after 14 and one-half years in Israeli prison. Instead of being released, however, he was ordered by the Israeli occupation military to six months in indefinitely-renewable administrative detention without charge or trial.
On 5 July, Kayed will face a hearing to confirm the administrative detention order against him in an Israeli military court. His previous hearing was postponed when he refused to attend, declaring the military courts and the entire administrative detention law to be illegitimate. Within Israeli prisons, hundreds of fellow Palestinian prisoners – many his comrades in the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – are engaged in protest actions, including hunger strikes, demanding Kayed’s freedom. In early July, Kayed’s comrades have declared that hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will join his open-ended hunger strike if he is not released.
8 July also marks the 44th commemoration of the assassination of Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani by the Israeli Mossad via a car bomb at his home in Beirut. Like Bilal Kayed, he was a leader in the Popular Front – and a leading writer, novelist, and political leader of the Palestinian revolution. His innovation, creativity and brilliance continues to inspire generations of Palestinian and international strugglers today, while both his novels and short stories, and his political writings express a clarity of Palestinian vision and a commitment to the Palestinian popular classes.
We urge all organizations, individuals and movements for justice in the world to take action on 8-15 July 2016 to commemorate Ghassan Kanafani and his revolutionary legacy and demand freedom and victory for Bilal Kayed and his comrades. On 24-25 June, people around the world held protests, actions, leafleting days and demonstrations urging freedom for Kayed and his fellow Palestinian prisoners.
On 8-15 July, commemorate Ghassan Kanafani and demand the freedom of Bilal Kayed and his fellow prisoners – and the freedom of Palestine and its people. Call-in days to demand justice and freedom for Palestinian prisoners; protests, demonstrations, literature tables; readings of Kanafani’s work and celebrations of cultural resistance – we must raise our voices around the world, in solidarity movements and in Palestinian communities in exile and diaspora to commemorate the revolutionary legacies of Palestinian history and to struggle for the freedom of today’s leaders behind bars.
Free Bilal Kayed and all Palestinian prisoners!
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
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Please use the form, email [email protected] or post to Samidoun on Facebook about events on 8-15 July, including existing events, protests, literature distributions or tables incorporating materials about Bilal Kayed and administrative detention.
ACTIONS INCLUDE
8 July, New York City: 8 July, NYC: Protest to free Bilal Kayed and stop G4S
8 July, Arklow, Ireland: 8 July, Arklow: Free Bilal Kayed! Solidarity with Palestine
8 July, Naples: 8 July, Naples: Rally for the Liberation of Bilal Kayed and all Palestinian Prisoners
8 July, London: 8 July, London: End the Siege on Gaza
9 July, Manchester: 9 July, Manchester: Day of Protest & Gaza Two Years on & Free Bilal Kayed and all Palestinian Prisoners!
9 July, Enniscorthy, Ireland: 9 July, Enniscorthy: Protest against arms trade with Israel and to free Bilal Kayed
13 July, Berlin: 13 July, Berlin: Protest to free Bilal Kayed
14 July, Haifa: 14 July, Haifa: Freedom for Bilal Kayed Protest
14 July, Beirut: 14 July, Beirut: Free Georges Abdallah Protest on French National Day
14 July, Milan: 14 July, Milan: Solidarity with the Struggle of the Palestinian Prisoners
15 July, New York City: 15 July, NYC: Imprisoned Resistance: Politics of Incarceration in Palestine & the U.S.
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ACTION ITEMS:
1. Participate in or Organize a Call-In Day – On 24 June, people across the US called the White House to demand freedom for Bilal Kayed. On 8 July, call your government officials and demand action on Palestinian prisoners and Palestinian rights – and the immediate release of Bilal Kayed.
In the US, Call the White House: 001-202-456-1111
In Australia, Call Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop: + 61 2 6277 7500
In the UK, Call the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Philip Hammond, MP: +44 20 7008 1500
In Canada, Call the Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion: +1-613-996-5789.
In the EU countries, Call the office of EU Commissioner Federica Mogherini at +32 (0) 2 29 53516 or email [email protected]
2. Hold a protest, literature distribution, picket or demonstration, or bring this issue to broader social justice protests, including building the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign to internationally isolate Israel, its institutions, and the corporations – like G4S -that profit from imprisonment, occupation, racism, colonialism and injustice. Demand freedom for Bilal Kayed and all Palestinian prisoners.
Use the form to let us know about your event: http://goo.gl/forms/9fD7n9pScNW0X96V2
Download signs and literature at this link: Free Bilal Kayed! Resources and Materials for International Day of Action
See reports from the last days of action: The World Calls for Freedom: Report on first global days of action to free Bilal Kayed
Videos for use in your action: Video on Bilal Kayed, Video by Mahmoud Kayed, Videos by Suha Kayed
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INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTERS OF THE CAMPAIGN TO FREE BILAL KAYED
Over 150 organizations signed on to the previous call to action to free Bilal Kayed! See the list of organizations below. Events were organized in Berlin, Paris, Brussels, New York, London, Dublin, Belfast, Galway, Amsterdam, The Hague, Toulouse, Torino, Milan, Vancouver and more. Participating organizations have made the call to action about this case available in: French | German | Greek | Italian | Spanish | Turkish | Czech | Dutch Join in!
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Abna’a el-Balad Movement – Palestine
ACAT France
Actions4Palestine – Toronto, Canada
AFPS Association France Palestine Solidarité
Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition NY
Al-Awda Palestine Right to Return Coalition – US
Alternative Information Center
Asociación Palestina BILADI
Association Belgo-Palestinienne
Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) – India
Association of Academics for the Respect of International Law in Palestine – AURDIP
Association of the Palestinian Community in Scotland
Associazione Amicizia Sardegna Palestina
BAYAN USA
BDS Action Calgary
BDS Amsterdam
BDS Austria
BDS Berlin
BDS Hamburg (Germany)
BDS Nederland
BDS Oudàh
BDS Slovenija
BDS Trieste
BDS Turkey (Filistin Için Israil’e Boykot Girisimi)
BDS Vancouver
Belgian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (BACBI)
Black Lives Matter Rockland Orange Alliance
Boycott! Supporting the Palestinian BDS Call from Within (Israeli citizens for BDS)
Byron Friends of Palestine
Campaign to Boycott Supporters of “Israel” in Lebanon
Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat
Campaign to Free Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
Canada Palestine Association
CAPJPO – EuroPalestine
Cátedra de Estudiso Palestinos Edward W. Said
Citizens International – Malaysia
Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine (Sydney)
Collectif Judeo Arabe et Citoyen pour la Palestine
Collettivo Autogestito CASAROSSA40
Comité Palestina Libre / Uruguay
Comite Salta de solidaridad con Palestina
Committee of the Greater ABC/SP of Solidarity with the Palestinian People – Brazil
Committee to Stop FBI Repression
Committees for a Democratic Palestine – Brazil
Communist Party, Sweden
Contemporary Lawyers Association (Çagdas Hukukçular Dernegi)
Corvallis-Albany Palestine Solidarity
Coup Pour Coup 31
Democratic Lawyers’ Alliance – Palestine
Democratic Palestine Committees – Germany
docP (Diensten en Onderzoek Centrum Palestina , Netherlands)
éirígí
Education Equals Making Community Connections
European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP)
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor
Faculty for Palestine (Canada)
February 20 Movement – USA
Filipino Refugees in the Netherlands
Finnish-Arab Friendship Society
Football Against Apartheid
Freedom Archives
Freedom Road Socialist Organization
Free Gaza Movement
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC)
Friends of Ain el-Helweh, Grenoble
Fronte Palestina
Gaza Action Ireland
Gerechtigkeit und Frieden für Palästina
Gesellschaft Schweiz Palästina
Grandmothers for Peace
Groupe Non-Violent LOUIS LECOIN
Grupo de Tecnología Alternativa S.C.
Gruppo Azione Palestina – Parma
Handala Center for Prisoners and Former Prisoners
Handala Cultural Center – Vienna
Hilton Head for Peace
Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (Türkiye Insan Haklari Vakfi)
Human Rights Institute – Bratislava, Slovakia
Human Rights March – Denmark
Hunter College Students for Justice in Palestine
Initiative for a Just Peace in the Middle East – Slovakia
Inminds.com
intal
International Action Center
International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity
International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
International League of Peoples Struggle in Canada
International Movement for a Just World (JUST)
International Solidarity Movement – Palestine
International Solidarity Movement – Northern California
International Solidarity Movement Czech Republic group
Internationale Socialisten
Internationalt Forum/Middle East Group
InvictaPalestina – Torino
Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association
Isçi Demokrasisi Partisi (IDP)
Jewish Voice for Peace, San Diego
Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
Labor for Palestine
LADH (Liga Argentina de los Derechos del Hombre)
Landless Workers ‘ Movement (MST) – Brazil
Lefterianews – Greece
Left Perspective – Czech Republic
Leuvense Actiegroep Palestina
Libertarian Lawyers Association (Özgürlükçü Hukukçular Dernegi)
London Palestine Action
Los Otros Judios
Merton PSC – London
MRAP Vaucluse
Mouvement Citoyen Palestine
National Jericho Movement
National Lawyers Guild – Palestine Subcommittee
Netherlands Palestine Committee (NPK)
New York City Students for Justice in Palestine
Northeast Political Prisoner Coalition
NY 4 Palestine Coalition
NYC Free Peltier
NYC Friends of MOVE
OPIRG Carleton
Palästinensische Kulturzentrum Schweiz
Palestijnse Gemeenschap in Nederland
Palestina Kommitee Rotterdam
Palestina Rossa
Palestina Solidariteit
Palestine Platform Human Rights and Solidarity (PPMS)
Palestine Solidarity Campaign of South Africa
Palestinian Arab Cultural Center in Brazil – Rio Grande do Sul
Palestinian Arab Cultural Center in Brazil – Sao Paulo
Palestinian Arab Society – Corumba (Brazil)
Palestinian Child and Youth Institute – Lebanon
Palestinian Club in the Czech Republic
Palestinian Democratic Coalition – Chicago
Palestinian Documentation Center
Palestinian Prisoners’ Committee – Palestine
Palestinian Youth Organization
Plate-forme Charleroi-Palestine
Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine
Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association
Progressive Palestinian Youth Union – Palestine
Progressive Student Labor Front – Palestine
Proletaren FF, sports club, Sweden
Raja’een Folkloric Dance Troupe
Red Sparks Union
Release Aging People in Prison
Resistance for Free Palestine – Greece
Rete Nazionale “Noi Saremo Tutto”
Revolutionaire Eenheid
Revolutionary Communist Group/Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!
Revolutionary Communist Youth, Sweden
Sawt al-Shaab (Voice of the People Radio) – Palestine
SODePAZ Balamil
Solidarity with Novorossiya and Antifascists in Ukraine – NYC
Stanford Students for Justice in Palestine
Stichting Groningen-Jabalya
Studenten Voor Rechtvaardigheid in Palestina- Nijmegen
Studenten voor Rechtvaardigheid in Palestina (SRP) – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
SJP at Sacramento State University
Students for Justice in Palestine – Maastricht
Students for Justice in Palestine at the College of Staten Island
Students For Justice in Palestine – Rotterdam
UDAP – Unione Democratica Arabo-Palestinese
UJFP French Jewish Union for Peace
Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees – Palestine
United for Palestine
USC Students for Justice in Palestine
US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)
Vlaams-Socialistische Beweging
Voice of Palestine
West Valley Neighborhoods Coalition
Women In Black International(Seattle USA chapter)
Women in Black (Vienna)
Women in Black The Netherlands
