American Muslims for Palestine: Call-In Day in Support of Palestinian Prisoners

(CHICAGO 04/12/2012) – The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) is participating in a global action of support for Palestinian Prisoners Day by asking our supporters to call the U.S. Department of State from 1 to 3 p.m. CST on Tuesday, April 17.

Palestinian Prisoner Day comes this year at a time when administrative detention prisoners achieved considerable victories against the Occupation Forces through their hunger strikes.

Political prisoner Khader Adnan underwent a 66-day hunger strike that ended in February. Israeli military authorities were holding him without charge or trial in administrative detention, which is against international law. Adnan conducted his hunger strike to protest the use of administrative detention and to raise awareness about the deplorable conditions Palestinian political prisoners must endure in Israeli prisons.

Hana Shalabi also forced the Israeli Occupation Forces to release her on her 43rd day of her hunger strike, although she was tricked into receiving a three-year exile in Gaza away from her family. Now there are more than 24 prisoners undergoing hunger strikes to end this use of brutal detention. A prison system-wide one-day strike was held on March 24.

Administrative detention allows Israeli military authorities to hold Palestinians without charge or trial for six-month periods, which are renewable indefinitely. Prisoners are held on purported “secret evidence,” which is presented to a judge but never to prisoners or their lawyers. The prisoners are not told why they are being held. They are prohibited from looking at this so-called “evidence” and they receive no trial. In perpetuating these measures, Israeli occupation forces violate the basic principles of human rights and internationally recognized norms of judicial conduct and this is un-American.

According to Samidoun, the Palestinian Prisoners Solidarity Network, 320 Palestinians currently are being held under administrative detention, including a number of members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Some have been held for more than four years. Today, 4,637 Palestinian political prisoners languish in the jails of the Israeli occupation, 30 of whom continue to be held in isolation, from Palestinian national leaders and Palestinian children – all of whom are demanding freedom. More action is urgently needed to mobilize global support for Palestinian political prisoners.

Take Action Now

The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) find the resounding silence by the United States about Israel’s violation of international law to be absolutely deplorable and in direct contradiction to the values of due process and also human rights, which we cherish. AMP calls on its supporters and all those who support human dignity and social justice to call the office of Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, in the State Department and demand the US intervene to force Israel to release all political prisoners.

National Call In Day: Call Mr. Feltman from 1 to 3 p.m. EST on Tuesday, April 17 to demand justice for Palestinian political prisoners. 

Contact Info

Call the office of Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs at 202.647.7209

Talking Points

  • State your name and the city and state where you reside. Be polite but firm.
  • The fact that Israeli occupation forces deny due process to Palestinians is racist and indicative of an apartheid state. U.S. support of the Israeli occupation in light of these facts hurts American interests abroad and undermines our status in the Arab and Muslim world. Furthermore, this is in direct contradiction to American and universal values of justice, freedom, equality, and liberty for all. The US should demand that Israel uphold the basic values of life, liberty and dignity inherent to all human beings.
  • The US should demand that Israel release all Palestinian prisoners. Once you call, please email AMP at [email protected] with Palestinian Prisoner Day in the subject line. Please tell us when you called and what state you reside in.