Protests in multiple cities demand freedom for imprisoned struggler Georges Ibrahim Abdallah

Georges Ibrahim Abdallah from Lannemezan prison in solidarity with the Traore family

Protests are being organized in multiple cities on 17 June to demand the release of imprisoned Lebanese Communist struggler for Palestine, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah. Called by the Unified Campaign to Free Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a national demonstration bringing participants from across France will take place in Paris at 3:00 pm on Saturday, 17 June to demand the release of Abdallah, imprisoned for 33 years in French prisons.

Abdallah, sentenced to a life sentence on allegations of complicity with acts of resistance against the Zionist occupation of Lebanon, has been eligible for release since 1999. Despite two orders for release by parole tribunals to return home to Lebanon, his release has been blocked by intervention at the highest political levels, including by former Interior Minister Manuel Valls in response to the requests of then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Abdallah plays an ongoing role in the liberation movement, even behind bars. A photo of him wearing a shirt in support of the movement for Justice for Adama Traore, killed by French police – and his family, facing persecution – was recently sent out from Lannemezan prison. He has repeatedly joined in hunger strikes with other Palestinian prisoners, including joining with the recent Strike for Dignity and Freedom and participating in a solidarity hunger strike with Palestinian prisoner Bilal Kayed. During all of these strikes, he has organized the participation of fellow Arab and Basque prisoners behind bars.

The Unified Campaign to Free Georges Ibrahim Abdallah declared that “This fight of a lifetime is also ours! He is part of our struggle and we are with his struggle! That is why we call upon all who stand with the Palestinian resistance to fight capitalism, imperialism, Zionism, colonialism and the Arab reactionary regimes to join us.” Protesters will gather at 3 pm at the Place du Colonel Fabien in Paris.

In Brussels, Secours Rouge organized a group of people to travel together by car to join the protest in Paris;  meanwhile, Mouvement Citoyen Palestine and other groups have called for a solidarity protest in the Belgian capital, outside the Consulate General of France. Demonstrators are invited to gather at 3 pm at 42 Boulevard de Regent to stand in solidarity with the Paris demonstration and call for the immediate release of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah.

Another event is being organized on Monday, 19 June in Milan, Italy, with a march to the French, Indian and Peruvian consulates. The protest, which will gather at 5:30 pm at Metro Pasteur in the city, will call for the release of Abdallah, Indian intellectual G. N. Saibaba and imprisoned Peruvian communist Chairman Gonzalo (Abimael Guzman.)

The demonstrations are being organized in advance of 19 June, the International Day of Revolutionary Prisoners. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network salutes these demonstrations and urges all to participate in building the campaign to free Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a prisoner of the Palestinian struggle inside French jails.