Khalida Jarrar Solidarity Campaign: Free Khalida Jarrar!

Stand with Khalida. Stand with Justice. Stand with Palestine.

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Update 26 December 2023:

Khalida Jarrar, the Palestinian feminist, leftist, and scholar was seized from her home in El-Bireh, occupied Palestine, in the morning hours of 26 December 2023 as part of mass arrests by Zionist forces in the West Bank of occupied Palestine during the genocide in Gaza.

Jarrar is currently a scholar and researcher at the Muwatin Institute at Birzeit University. In fact, she was scheduled to appear on 27 December at a panel convened by Jadaliyya on imprisonment in the time of genocide; she was seized from her home only one day before.

 

UPDATE: 12 July 2021 –

Palestinian lawyers reported on Monday, 12 July that the Israeli occupation rejected their legal appeal seeking the early release of imprisoned Palestinian feminist and national leader, Khalida Jarrar, to participate in the funeral of her daughter, Suha Jarrar, who passed away on Sunday in Ramallah.

The Israeli occupation wants to deny even this basic human need to Khalida Jarrar, to see her daughter one last time. She is imprisoned on political charges and has only two months remaining in her sentence, imposed by an illegitimate Israeli military court for her public activities and advocacy for Palestinian liberation.

Immediate actions: 

This latest attack on Jarrar and her family came as thousands of people around the world have signed a petition, demanded their governments take action and expressed their outrage at the ongoing repression directed at Khalida Jarrar and her family, even at a moment of great tragedy. Suha Jarrar, 30, was a committed Palestinian human rights defender who worked with Al-Haq and spoke around the world, defending and upholding Palestinian rights and liberation.

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Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network extends its deepest condolences to Khalida, Ghassan and Yafa Jarrar upon the tragic passing of Suha Jarrar, who died on Sunday, July 11 at the age of 31.

Suha, Khalida and Ghassan’s daughter, Yafa’s sister, was a tireless advocate for Palestinian rights and liberation, speaking around the world to advance Palestinian freedom.

At this horrendous moment for her and her family, Khalida Jarrar, Palestinian leader, feminist, parliamentarian and organizer, remains imprisoned in Israeli jails as a political leader, denied even the comfort of her loved ones. We extend our condolences to all who knew, loved and honored Suha and demand the immediate release of Khalida Jarrar to be among her family at this time.

Sign the petition to demand Khalida’s immediate release.

Update your Facebook profile with a frame demanding Khalida’s release.

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Al-Haq, the Palestinian human rights organization, where Suha Jarrar worked, has filed an urgent appeal with UN Special Procedures for Khalida Jarrar’s immediate release.

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We are also sharing the following appeal and call to action, which is being widely distributed by Palestinian organizers:

Instead of surrendering to the belief that revolutionary leader and former Palestinian Legislative Council member Khalida Jarrar will be denied the right to bury her daughter Suha, whose death was announced this evening, let us work locally and internationally to form the necessary pressure that will make it possible.

Khalida is a Palestinian political prisoner, who was arrested for her national political activism. She has the right to participate in her daughter’s funeral.

Khalida has been incarcerated for nearly two years and is due for release within two months. She has been arrested by the Israeli regime on many occasions, during which time she has been subjected to various forms of abuse and persecution.

The Israeli regime’s prison administration should release Khalida as soon as possible so that she can bury and mourn her daughter and exercise her most fundamental human rights.

Freedom for Khalida Jarrar

TAKE ACTION: 

Sign and Share the Petition!

We urge all supporters of Palestine sign the petition to demand Khalida Jarrar’s immediate release and seek worldwide support: https://www.change.org/freekhalida

This petition addresses the United Nations and calls on human rights organizations like Amnesty International to take a stand for Khalida’s immediate freedom. Please note, if this petition site (Change.org) asks you to donate, any funds go to the petition site for promotion, not to Samidoun or to Khalida Jarrar’s family. We are not seeking publicity donations.

Join the Social Media Campaign

Post with the #FreeKhalidaJarrar hashtag and join Palestinians and supporters of justice around the world!

Protest at the Israeli Embassy or Consulate in Your Country!

Join the many protests taking place around the world — confront, isolate and besiege the Israeli embassy or consulate in your city or country of residence. Make it clear that the people are with Palestine! Send us your events at samidoun@samidoun.net.

Take to the streets: Organize a protest in solidarity with Palestine!

Hundreds of thousands – millions of people – around the world have marched and protested with Palestine, its people and its liberation over the past week. Your protest and organizing is also key to highlighting the campaign to free Khalida!  Take to the streets and join the actions on our full list of events, which is constantly being updated as new actions are announced! Organize your own if there is none in your area, and send us your events at samidoun@samidoun.net.

Boycott Israel!

The international, Arab and Palestinian campaign to boycott Israel can play an important role at this critical time. Local boycott groups can protest and label Israeli produce and groceries. During Ramadan, Israeli dates from stolen Palestinian land are marketed around the world while Israel attempts to force Palestinians from Jerusalem, demolish homes, and imprisons thousands more. By participating in the boycott of Israel, you can directly help to throw a wrench in the economy of settler colonialism.

Demand Your Government Sanction Israel!

The racist, settler colonial state of Israel and its war crimes against the Palestinian people are enabled and backed extensively by the over $3.8 billion each year given to Israel by the United States — targeted directly to support the Israeli occupation military killing children, women, men and elders throughout occupied Palestine. From Canada to Australia to the European Union, Western governments and imperialist powers provide ongoing diplomatic, political and economic support to Israel as well as selling billions of dollars of weaponry to the settler-colonial state. Meanwhile, they also purchase billions of dollars in weaponry from the Israeli state. Governments in league with imperialist powers, such as in the Philippines, Brazil, India and elsewhere, also buy weapons and “security” services — all “battle-tested” on the Palestinian population. Call your representatives, MPs, political officials and demand your government sanction Israel now, cut off all aid, expel its ambassadors, and stop buying and selling weapons!

 

UPDATE: 28 October 2018: Khalida Jarrar’s administrative detention was renewed for another four months by the Israeli occupation. Read more here, and visit Addameer’s site to join their call to action: http://addameer.org/news/urgent-action-help-free-human-rights-defender-khalida-jarrar

UPDATE: 27 December 2017: Khalida Jarrar’s administrative detention order was renewed for another six months by the Israeli occupation today, four days before it was to expire. Learn more and take action here: Urgent: Khalida Jarrar’s imprisonment without charge or trial extended for six more months

UPDATE: 2 July 2017: Khalida Jarrar was again arrested by Israeli occupation forces in a pre-dawn raid on her home. Also targeted was Khitam Saafin, the coordinator of the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees. Both have been taken to an unknown location.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges international mobilization and action to demand the immediate release of Khalida Jarrar and Khitam Saafin, prominent Palestinian progressive and feminist leaders and strugglers committed to the freedom and liberation of their people. The arrests of Jarrar and Saafin clearly come as an attempt by the Israeli occupation to attack Palestinian popular movements and suppress them through fear, arrests and intimidation carried out by a massively armed occupation force.

We urge all friends of Palestine and the Palestinian people to join us in reactivating the Khalida Jarrar Solidarity Campaign as well as the campaign in solidarity with Khitam Saafin. These arrests represent an attack on the leaders, the political activity and the popular organizing of the Palestinian people. They must be met with intensified solidarity to demand the freedom of Khalida Jarrar, Khitam Saafin and all of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners behind bars in Israeli occupation prisons.

UPDATE: 3 June 2016: Khalida Jarrar was freed from Israeli prison and greeted with a reception at Jubara checkpoint upon her release, where she urged intensified action to free Palestinian prisoners. Salutes to Khalida Jarrar and freedom for all Palestinian prisoners!

khalida-freeUPDATE: 6 December: Despite all of the work of Khalida’s lawyers in clearly exposing the fraudulence of the charges against her, the Israeli occupation military court sentenced Khalida Jarrar to 15 months in occupation prison, reflecting the fundamental injustice of Israeli military courts. Read more…

UPDATE: 11 November: Khalida Jarrar’s military court hearing on Sunday, 8 November was reported on in 972mag, revealing that “witnesses” were asked to identify Jarrar from a “photo lineup” of six men and one woman. The prosecution announced that if the release of Jarrar is ordered due to the repeated delay in her trial, they will once again seek to administratively detain her without charge or trial. Read more…

UPDATE: 21 September: Khalida Jarrar’s military court hearing at Ofer was again postponed until 12 October, as the military prosecution demanded to arrest Palestinians in order to force them to testify against Jarrar. The one witness brought forward by the prosecution was declared “hostile” after he denied all allegations against Jarrar; he was compelled to testify, currently imprisoned in Israeli jails. Read more…

UPDATE: 25 August: Khalida Jarrar’s military court hearing at Ofer saw the military prosecution present witnesses – two of whom they arrested to force their testimony, one who was brought from prison. The two witnesses that testified denied the information attributed to their confessions, noting that they had been obtained through torture and duress, including threats to their families. The next hearing will take place on 20 September. More details..

UPDATE, 10 August: Khalida Jarrar’s military court hearing at Ofer was once again postponed due to the military prosecution again declining to present witnesses or evidence. The motion made by Khalida’s lawyers at Addameer for her release on bail was also denied despite the clear refusal of the military prosecution to present its case in a timely fashion. Her next hearing is 24 August.

UPDATE, 4 August: Khalida Jarrar’s military court hearing at Ofer was postponed again, due to the military prosecution not bringing its witnesses. Addameer has a statement: http://www.addameer.org/news/hearing-plc-member-khalida-jarrar-postponed-10-august-2015. Her next hearing will take place on 10 August.

UPDATE, 30 July 2015: New article by Gregory Shupak and Alan Sears at rabble.ca interviews Yafa Jarrar and discusses Canadian university complicity with Israeli imprisonment of Palestinian prisoners, including Khalida Jarrar: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/campus-notes/2015/07/universities-canada-turning-blind-eye-on-palestinian-cases

UPDATE, 13 July 2015: Khalida Jarrar’s hearing in Ofer military court was reported on by Addameer. Her lawyers argued for her immunity as a PLC member, about the illegality of the occupation and Khalida’s arrest in Area A, the arbitrary charges against her and that this arrest is retaliation for her defiance of the attempt to displace her forcibly to Jericho in 2014. The next military court hearing is scheduled for 4 August.

UPDATE, 12 July 2015: Khalida Jarrar’s next hearing is scheduled to take place tomorrow, 13 July, in Ofer Military Court. Click here to read Khalida’s letter from prison.

UPDATE, 29 June 2015: Jarrar had her first family visit with her daughters, Yafa and Suha. All other family members were denied visit permits, either because they were “not first-degree relatives,” or due to undisclosed “security” pretexts, like Khalida’s husband Ghassan.

UPDATE, 22 June 2015: Jarrar’s military trial on 12 charges of engaging in protected political advocacy and human rights defense began with a short hearing; the next hearing in her military trial is expected in July, although her case was “continued indefinitely” by the Israeli military court, leaving her detained indefinitely. Link to report by Gideon Levy and Alex Levac on the hearing.

The hearing was attended by Jarrar’s daughters, Yafa and Suha, visiting their family from Canada, Ha’aretz reported, calling Jarrar “the most famous Palestinian prisoner in the world today.” Link to Haaretz report on the 12 charges.

On May 21, a military court judge ordered Jarrar’s release on bail; however, the military prosecution appealed the release order, and on May 28, the military court ordered Jarrar imprisoned until the end of proceedings.

International organizations, including Addameer, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights, and the National Lawyers Guild, filed a complaint with the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders about Jarrar, noting that her peaceful work to promote, protect and realise human rights and fundamental freedoms means she is entitled to the human rights protections outlined in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

UPDATE, May 5: As of May 4, Khalida Jarrar’s administrative detention is officially limited; she is now being officially imprisoned on the basis of the 12 entirely political charges against her in Israeli military courts. This came one day before a scheduled hearing on her administrative detention. 

“Whether Khalida Jarrar is being detained under administrative detention or for Israeli military trial, she is facing one framework of repression, racism and mass incarceration targeting Palestinian political life and expression. Both systems of detention are part and parcel of maintaining military control and occupation over the Palestinian people, and both are arbitrary forms of political detention and imprisonment that target Palestinian leaders and organizers,” said Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. More information and Statement from Addameer.

UPDATE, April 26:  Khalida Jarrar’s April 29 hearing was postponed; a new date will be announced in the coming days.

A flashmob protest in Brussels on April 26 called for Khalida’s freedom. Pictures at the link.

The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz ran a staff editorial urging Jarrar’s release, following up on a lengthy April 24 interview with Khalida’s husband, Ghassan Jarrar.

A new website, http://freekhalidajarrar.org, has been launched, focusing on Khalida Jarrar’s case, with input from Samidoun and other Palestinian prisoner and solidarity organizations.

UPDATE, April 22: Khalida Jarrar was named “Truthdigger of the Week” by activist journalist site Truthdig, which highlighted her case:

 These measures—including the aggressive persecution of Jarrar, an elected official—are Israel’s message to the Palestinian people not to challenge its power. As Israel attempts to silence and break her down, what makes Khalida Jarrar, our Truthdigger of the Week, so dangerous is her speaking truth to this power.

Jarrar’s daughter, Yafa, conducted an interview on Canadian radio station CKCU, which can be listened to online here: http://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/425/21653.html

Activists in Brussels planned a flashmob for April 26, focusing on freedom for Khalida Jarrar, to be attended by Joke Callevaert, a Belgian lawyer who observed Khalida’s military court hearing. Jarrar herself met with Palestinian lawyer Hanan al-Khatib, denouncing her arrest as having “no legal justification” and highlighting the harsh conditions for Palestinian prisoners, particularly the use of the metal “bosta” for the 9-hour trip to Ofer military court from HaSharon prison.

UPDATE, April 17: The Portuguese Assembly of the Republic (national Parliament) voted on April 17 to adopt a solidarity vote urging the immediate release of Khalida Jarrar, a measure proposed by the Portuguese Communist Party and supported by the Socialist Party, Greens, and the Left Bloc.

The vote followed a letter by 58 Members of European Parliament urging Jarrar’s immediate release and EU action to pressure Israel for her freedom.

April 17 also marked Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, where Jarrar’s case was highlighted by protesters and activists around the world.

UPDATE, April 15: The Israeli military court in Ofer convened a hearing on the case of imprisoned Palestinian parliamentarian, feminist and leftist political leader Khalida Jarrar, whose case has garnered widespread international support since her arrest on April 2. Jarrar had previously rejected an Israeli order to deport her from her home in Ramallah to Jericho, achieving a victory and the cancellation of the order.

Jarrar had previously been ordered to six months’ administrative detention; the hearing on April 15 was a rescheduling of the prior hearing on April 8, ostensibly to confirm the military order of administrative detention without charge or trial. Instead, on the April 15 hearing, the administrative detention order was confirmed; in addition, the military court leveled 12 entirely political charges against Jarrar, all of them related to her public speeches and political activities and advocacy for Palestinian political prisoners. It must be noted that nearly all Palestinian political parties and organizations, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, are banned by the Israeli military occupation, by military order, and membership in those parties, attending public events, engaging in television interviews or giving public speeches may be prosecuted by the Israeli military occupation.

The military court hearing was attended by representatives of the European Union, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, and Amnesty International, in addition to other observer lawyers. “We were surprised by the prosecution, which explicitly said last week there were no grounds to detain her until the end of proceedings,” said Jarrar’s lawyer, Sahar Francis in Haaretz. “The indictment strengthens our argument that the imprisonment is vindictive.”

Despite the indictment, the military judge retained the administrative detention order, in order to continue to imprison Jarrar without trial and without providing any reasons to continue her detention and deny her release on bail. Her next hearing, on whether she will be imprisoned until trial on the charges, will be held on April 29, followed by a hearing on administrative detention May 6.

UPDATE, April 12: Khalida Jarrar’s hearing at Ofer Military Court was postponed by one day, to April 15 at 11:00 am, reported Addameer. 

Support for Khalida’s freedom has continued to grow: the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights addressed her case; Amnesty International issued an urgent appeal about her detention; Human Rights Watch published a bulletin on her case; CODEPINK sent an action alert, while in France and Brazil, more political parties and organizations expressed their support for her freedom.

UPDATE, April 8: Khalida Jarrar’s administrative detention confirmation hearing at Ofer Military Court was postponed for six days, until April 14, reported Addameer. There were 14 items of “open evidence” (aside from the secret evidence not presented to Jarrar or her lawyers) not provided to her defense lawyers; they requested and received the postponement until April 14.

Now, more than ever, action is necessary in order to escalate the pressure to free Khalida Jarrar. More actions to support Jarrar:

Take Action to support Khalida Jarrar:

1. Click here: Send a message to the Israeli Occupation Forces and demand the immediate release of Khalida Jarrar.It is important that the occupation learns that Khalida has supporters around the world who will not be silent in the face of this injustice.

2. Sign the petition! Sign and share this petition, demanding freedom for Khalida Jarrar immediately.

3. Contact your Member of Parliament, Representative, or Member of European Parliament. The attack on Khalida is an attack on Palestinian parliamentary legitimacy and political expression. Parliamentarians have a responsibility to pressure Israel to cancel this order.

4. Send a letter to Khalida Jarrar – help support her and show her jailers that the world is with her!

5. Use the Campaign Resources to inform your community, parliamentarians and others about Khalida’s case.

6. Protest at the Israeli consulate or embassy for Khalida Jarrar. Bring posters and flyers about Khalida’s case and hold a protest, or join a protest with this important information. Hold a community event or discussion, or include Khalida’s case in your next event about Palestine and social justice.

7. Boycott, Divest and Sanction. Hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law. Don’t buy Israeli goods, and campaign to end investments in corporations that profit from the occupation. Learn more at bdsmovement.net.

UPDATE, April 5, 2:30 pm: Khalida Jarrar, Palestinian leader, parliamentarian and feminist, has been issued a six-month administrative detention order imprisoning her without charge or trial, at the behest of the Israeli military commander in the West Bank, reported Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association – Jarrar’s lawyers – on April 5.

Mahmoud Hassan, lawyer with Addameer and director of its Legal Unit, reported that a military court session at Ofer will confirm the order on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Jarrar is the former Executive Director of Addameer and Vice President of its Board of Directors, as well as the chair of the Palestinian Legislative Council Prisoners’ Committee and a member of the Palestinian national follow-up committee for the International Criminal Court.

Administrative detention is the imprisonment of Palestinians without charge or trial and on the basis of secret evidence for up to six month periods, indefinitely renewable by Israeli military courts. The use of administrative detention dates from the “emergency laws” of the British colonial era in Palestine. Israel’s use of administrative detention violates international law; such detention is allowed only in individual circumstances that are exceptionally compelling for “imperative reasons of security.” In Palestine, however, Israel uses administrative detention routinely as a form of collective punishment and mass detention of Palestinians, and frequently uses administrative detention when it fails to obtain confessions in interrogations of Palestinian detainees.

UPDATE, April 5: Khalida Jarrar‘s first court hearing was rescheduled until tomorrow. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association lawyer is on his way to Hasharon prison now to try to visit her. News via Yafa Jarrar.

More statements in support of Khalida Jarrar:

UPDATE, April 4: Khalida Jarrar refused to speak or eat at all while she was held at Ofer under interrogation before being transferred to HaSharon prison, reported her daughter Yafa.

More international voices are expressing support for Khalida Jarrar:

Italian language alert: http://kanafani.it/?p=882
French language alert: http://www.couppourcoup31.com/2015/04/la-militante-palestinienne-khalda-jarrar-a-ete-arretee.html
Spanish language alert: http://samidoun.net/2015/04/espanol-lider-palestina-diputada-khalida-jarrar-fue-arrestada-por-fuerzas-de-ocupacion-israeli/

Protests in solidarity with Khalida Jarrar:

UPDATE, April 2: Khalida Jarrar has been held in Ofer under investigation. Her investigation period has ended and she will be transferred to HaSharon prison. Her detention may be extended on Sunday. A military prosecutor will either submit charges, hold her under administrative detention, or release her. Khalida is in the Palestinian National Commission for the followup of the International Criminal Court.

Israeli media have reported that, according to Ma’an News, “Jarrar was detained for being the leader of a ‘terrorist organization’, and had encouraged ‘terror activities’ over the last few weeks.”

Reports on Khalida Jarrar’s arrest (small selection among numerous reports):

BREAKING NEWS: April 2, 2015 – Khalida Jarrar’s Ramallah home was raided by dozens of armed Israeli occupation forces. Khalida’s husband was locked in another room as the Palestinian parliamentarian and leader was forcibly taken from her home and arrested by Israeli forces. Take action now to demand her immediate release.

LATEST UPDATE: As of September 16, 2014, Khalida Jarrar has achieved victory! Occupation military court lowered the expulsion order from six months to one month; with one month having passed since the date of the order, the expulsion order has been lifted. Congratulations to Khalida Jarrar and thank you to the thousands around the world who made a critical difference! Victory for Khalida Jarrar – on the road to victory for Palestine!

Khalida Jarrar, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, leader in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and longtime advocate for Palestinian political prisoners, was given an internal expulsion order by Israeli occupation soldiers who invaded her Ramallah home at 1:30 am on August 20, 2014 ordering her expelled from Ramallah to Jericho within 24 hours. Click here to take action and stand with Khalida!

Approximately 50 soldiers surrounded Jarrar’s home, delivering the “Special Supervision Order” that ordered her to Jericho within 24 hours, and to stay within the city limits of that city for an initial period of six months. The Order (unofficial translation here) comes from an Israeli military court, is based on secret evidence and offers nothing more than allusions to “intelligence information” to justify this forced expulsion and transfer.

Jarrar refused to sign the expulsion order, saying “you, the occupation, are killing our Palestinian people. You practice mass arests, demolish homes, kidnap people from their homes and deport them. It is you who must leave our home.” She has moved to stay in a “protest tent” outside the legislative council building in Ramallah.

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