Monday, 8 February
11:00 am – 3:00 pm EST (10:00 am – 2:00 pm CST)
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1055960941127415/
Organized by American Muslims for Palestine
The American Muslims for Palestine, a national education and advocacy organization, today is calling for a national call-in day on behalf of Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq, 33. Mr. al-Qeeq is in a “struggle against death,” after more than 75 days on a hunger strike to protest the inhumane conditions under which Israeli occupation authorities have detained him since his arrest on Nov. 21, 2015. He is protesting Israel’s use of administrative detention, or being held without charge or trial and has refused all nourishment, including salts and minerals since Nov. 24.
On Sunday, an Israeli doctor in the hospital where al-Qeeq is being detained told media that al-Qeeq is in critical condition and “each minute marks serious threat to his life.” The father of two has lost his ability to speak, is nearly blind and lapses in and out of consciousness, according to a source close to the family.
Mr. al-Qeeq recently rejected an Israeli offer to release him on May 1, and instead demanded the immediate end of his administrative detention and the ability to be treated in a Palestinian hospital once he is freed, according to media reports.
Israeli occupation forces arrested Mr. al-Qeeq from his home at 2 a.m. on Nov. 21 and subjected him to 25 days of brutal interrogation. He began his hunger strike on Nov. 24 and spent several weeks in solitary confinement before he was transferred to a military hospital on Dec. 30, 2015 due to his deteriorating health.
TAKE ACTION
We must take action now! Israel’s use of administrative detention violates international and American laws.
Call Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and ask the US State Department to pressure Israel to end Mohammed Al-Qiq’s administrative detention immediately.
TALKING POINTS
- Please pressure Israel to release Mohammed al-Qeeq from administrative detention immediately and allow him to seek medical treatment in a Palestinian hospital.
- Mr. al-Qeeq is a journalist and as such should enjoy special protections.
- A free press is vital to democracy and detaining journalists is not the sign of a democratic society.
- Israel currently is holding 6,800 Palestinians, mostly as political prisoners, and 660 of them are being held in administrative detention.
- Israel’s use of administrative detention violates the Fourth Geneva Conventions and the US Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
- The United States has a moral obligation to ensure recipients of our aid uphold human rights, and to turn a blind eye to Israel’s imprisonment of nearly 7,000 Palestinians and its use of administrative detention weakens our moral stance throughout the world.
- The US must demand Israel release all Palestinian political prisoners immediately and end its use of administrative detention.
CONTACT INFO
Please call Assistant Secretary of State Anne Patterson at 202. 647.3930.
TWEET
Please Tweet at US Secretary of State John Kerry, the State Department, President Barack Obama and the White House with the hashtag #FreeAlQiq.
@John Kerry
@StateDept
@POTUS
@WhiteHouse
Once you call, please post a comment on this Facebook page.
