Momentum is building for international days of resistance to Free Georges Ibrahim Abdallah

7 October 2017

Events | Call to Action | Take Action | Materials and Posters

The campaign to free Georges Abdallah is growing as he approaches the beginning of his 34th year in French prisons. Join the movement to free this imprisoned Lebanese Communist struggler for Palestine from French prisons by organizing an event for the international days of action from 14 October to 24 October. Events are being organized in New York, Toulouse, Paris, Lannemezan, Brussels, Dublin, Lyon and more – be a part of the days of action by organizing an event or including freedom for Georges Abdallah in local actions!

At the European Parliament event in support of Palestinian women’s struggle on 26 September, a number of participants expressed their support for the upcoming days of action and urged supporters of Palestine around the world to get involved with the campaign to free Georges Abdallah.

Leila Khaled, Palestinian revolutionary icon:

Ahed Tamimi and Bassem Tamimi of the Popular Resistance committees in Palestine:

Sahar Francis, executive director of Addameer:

Manu Pineda, of Unadikum Association and the Communist Party of Spain’s director of its Middle East Commission:

Claudia Salerno Caldera, ambassador of Venezuela to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union:

Meanwhile, in Belgium, a new call has been launched to build support for Georges Abdallah and Samidoun has kicked off its activities in Lebanon with an activity in Beddawi refugee camp on the case. All over social media, people are adding a Free Georges Abdallah frame to their Facebook photos. Throughout France, in Toulouse and elsewhere, organizers, including Coup Pour Coup 31, the Unified Campaign for the Release of Georges Abdallah, the Collective for the Liberation of Georges Abdallah and EuroPalestine are hanging banners, putting up posters and organizing in the weeks prior to the large national march in Lannemezan on 21 October.

Become a part of the campaign – organize events, actions and protests at French embassies and consulates around the world. Where there is not a French consulate, protest at U.S. or Israeli embassies and consulates and in public squares between 14 October and 24 October. Include Georges Abdallah in your actions and demonstrations during that time against war and racism and for Palestine and political prisoners’ liberation. Send us your events! Use this form or email [email protected]

Events for the Week of Action

BORDEAUX:
Friday, 13 October
Evening of solidarity for Georges Abdallah: film and discussion with Jacques-Marie Bourget and screening of “3000 Nights”
8:30 pm
Cinema Utopia
5 place Camille Jullian
Bordeaux
Organized by Le Collectif Libérons Georges 33, LDH and La Cle des Ondes
More information: https://sd-5b.archive-host.com/membres/up/29b72e7b8387d2014690b4aea20c293508c66477/docs/GA_Bx_2017.pdf

Saturday, 14 October
Meal of solidarity with Georges Abdallah and meeting with Jacques-Marie Bourget
12:00 pm
Athenee Libertaire
7 rue de Muguet
Bordeaux
Organized by: Le Collectif Libérons Georges 33
More information: https://sd-5b.archive-host.com/membres/up/29b72e7b8387d2014690b4aea20c293508c66477/docs/GA_Bx_2017.pdf

ATHENS:
Saturday, 14 October
Action to Free Georges Abdallah at Football Match
Municipal Stadium of Peristeri
Athens, Greece
More information: http://www.kanafani.gr/intervention-to-soccer-match-atromitos-vs-asteras-tripolis-for-george-abdallah-in-athens/

NEW YORK:
Monday, 16 October
Protest to Free Georges Abdallah and Salah Hamouri
5:00 pm
France Mission to the United Nations
245 E. 47th St, NYC
Organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1897506840567283/

VILLENEUVE:
Tuesday, 17 October
Screening and discussion: “After War is Always War” by Samir Abdallah
8:30 pm
Villeneuve centre Culturel
Villeneuve, France
More information: https://sd-5b.archive-host.com/membres/up/29b72e7b8387d2014690b4aea20c293508c66477/docs/GA_Bx_2017.pdf

MANCHESTER:
Wednesday, 18 October
Free Georges Abdallah! Free all Palestinian Prisoners!
12:00 pm
University of Manchester Students Union
Manchester, UK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/529973637336876/

MARSEILLE:
Thursday, 19 October
Soirée Georges Abdallah/17 octobre 1961
6:30 pm
Dar Lamifa
127 rue d’Aubagne
13006 Marseille
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/372108329899692/

DEN HAAG (THE HAGUE):
Friday, 20 October
Freedom for Salah Hamouri and Georges Abdallah
2:00 pm
Embassy of France to the Netherlands
Den Haag
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/182938298942362/

TOULOUSE:
Friday, 20 October
Palestine: They can’t stop our solidarity!
6:30 pm – 11 pm
Le Hangar de la Cépière
8 rue de Bagnolet, Toulouse
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1330369670424161/

BRUSSELS:
Friday, 20 October
Liberte pour Georges Abdallah!
5:30 pm
Regentlaan 42 1000 Brussels
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1934882953418757/

HAMBURG
Friday, 20 October
Event and film on Georges Abdallah
7:00 pm
International Center B5
Brigittestrasse 5
St. Pauli
Hamburg, Germany
More information: https://www.facebook.com/detouteurgence/photos/a.881264881928183.1073741828.880931775294827/1434490609938938/?type=3&theater

LANNEMEZAN:
Saturday, 21 October
National Demonstration to Free Georges Abdallah
2:00 pm
Gare de Lannemezan (March to Lannemezan Prison)
Lannemezan, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/814700755345206/

Collective transport to Lannnemezan:

from Paris: depart Friday 20 October, 10 pm Place de la République(email: [email protected])
from Toulouse: depart Saturday October 21st at 12:00 at the metro Basso-Cambo (email: [email protected])
from Bordeaux: Saturday 21 October at 9am Place de Ravezies (email: [email protected])
from Marseille: Saturday 21 October – join the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/291271791355420/

DUBLIN:
Saturday, 21 October
Free Georges Abdallah Dublin
2:00 pm
General Post Office, O’Connell Street
Dublin, Ireland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1962801003963560

BERLIN:
Saturday, 21 October
Freedom for Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
12:00 pm
Pariser Platz 1
10117 Berlin
More information: http://palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2017/10/13/berlin-sa-21-10-2017-freiheit-fuer-georges-ibrahim-abdallah/

LYON:
Saturday, 21 October
Boxing event and “Soul Train” evening in support of Georges Abdallah
7:00 pm
Lyon 7th-Gerland
Email: [email protected]
Organized by: Dar Harraga (Lyon) / Jugurtha band’s (St Etienne) / Comité lyon sud/est pour la libération de Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
More info: https://rebellyon.info/Gala-de-boxe-et-soiree-Soul-Train-en-18143

TUNIS:
Saturday, 21 October
Freedom for Georges Abdallah
1:00 pm
French Embassy
Tunis, Tunisia
Assemble on Habib Bourguiba Street to march to French Embassy
More information: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154743879592085&set=a.10150282516337085.333967.730112084&type=3

BAALBEK:
Saturday, 21 October
Freedom for Georges Abdallah: 33 Years Without Compromise
5:00 pm
Martyr Basil al-Asad cultural Center
Baalbek, Lebanon

BEIRUT:
Sunday, 22 October
Lebanon demands the release of Georges Abdallah from French prisons
11:00 am
Al-Sham Street
Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth – USJ
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/131239200959946/

NEW YORK:
Monday, 23 October
Free Georges Abdallah and Salah Hamouri!
5:00 pm
Consulate General of France in New York
934 5th Avenue
New York City
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/888197914668181/

ATHENS
Tuesday, 24 October
Protest – Free Georges Abdallah!
6:00 pm
French Embassy
Athens, Greece
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/140702906553686/

SHATILA CAMP:
Friday, 27 October
Solidarity with Georges Abdallah – Organized by the Palestinian Chess Club in Shatila
6:00 pm
Palestinian Chess Club
Shatila Camp, Beirut, Lebanon

Call to Action

24 October 2017 marks the 33rd anniversary of the arrest of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, revolutionary Lebanese Arab Communist struggler for Palestine, by French police. Since 1984, he has remained behind bars, one of the longest-held political prisoners in the world. From 14-24 October 2017, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network joins organizations in France and around the world to call for a week of international actions to demand freedom for Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and all Palestinian prisoners!

Georges Abdallah has been committed throughout his life to the revolutionary struggle in Lebanon and the liberation of Palestine. He was involved with the Palestinian leftist organization, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, resisting Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Later, he joined other Lebanese revolutionary leftists in the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions, pointing to a non-sectarian, socialist and revolutionary path to liberation for the people of Lebanon, faced with civil war militias and Israeli invasion and occupation in the south of Lebanon.

Georges Abdallah was originally arrested for allegedly carrying false documents; his detention was repeatedly extended as French intelligence searched for information to charge him with involvement in armed actions that killed a U.S. diplomat and an Israeli representative in Paris. Even one of his lawyers was reportedly involved in spying on Abdallah for the French intelligence agency. While he was supposed to be exchanged with prisoners held by Arab revolutionaries, the French state reneged after obtaining their own prisoners, keeping Abdallah as a prisoner.

In 1987, when Georges Abdallah was sentenced, he was expected to receive a lengthy sentence of ten yearsor less – as recommended by the prosecutor in his case. Instead, he received a life sentence, as argued by a private lawyer representing the U.S. government.

Today, Georges Abdallah remains behind bars. Despite being eligible for release since 1999, his applications have been denied repeatedly. Even when they have been approved judicially, French officials have intervened at the highest levels to block his release, such as former Prime Minister Manuel Valls. U.S. officials like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have also intervened in an attempt to block Abdallah’s release. In essence, Georges Abdallah is a prisoner not only of the French colonial state but also of U.S. imperialism and the Israeli occupation. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government has failed to live up to its responsibility in seeking the freedom of its imprisoned countryman.

Despite being held in Lannemezan prison for over 33 years of his life, Georges Abdallah is an active participant in struggle. He has written letters and issued statements in response to revolutionary struggles around the world and always maintains a special eye toward the Palestinian prisoners, who have declared him one of their own.

His words continue to inspire generations of revolutionaries, strugglers and freedom fighters. And his participation is not limited to words – indeed, he has refused meals and organized his Basque and Arab fellow prisoners in Lannemezan to do so as well, in solidarity with the hunger strikes of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Georges Abdallah expressed his solidarity with imprisoned Palestinian national leader, Ahmad Sa’adat, the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, wearing a shirt demanding his release. In return, Sa’adat issued a public letter to Abdallah from Ramon prison:

We are chained by the common injustices manufactured in the United States of America, which are the same ones used in Palestine, and I do not doubt that there are many examples in all of the strongholds of imperialism.

You and those who unite with you in support and solidarity, the true comrades in France, Lebanon, Palestine and all over the world, are the natural extension of those who once carried hammers, stormed the Bastille and broke into the prison walls…the extension of those who turned the cells of the Zionist occupation into revolutionary schools from which successive generations learn the meaning of will, determination and commitment…the extension of all of the forces and movements for liberation in the world who resist for true democracy and a world free of exploitation, tyranny and subjugation, where the values of social justice, liberation and dignity prevail.

Until we meet one day in the world of freedom, you remain a symbol and a model for us to follow.

This year, on 14-24 October, we call on you to join us, in your cities, communities, neighborhoods, camps, towns and campuses, to organize events, protests, marches and activities to demand freedom for Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and all Palestinian prisoners. Events are already being organized in France, including the mass annual march to Lannemezan prison, in Ireland, in the United States, in Germany, in Spain, in Belgium and in Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, among other locations.

Georges Abdallah is not alone; his imprisonment comes alongside that of Ahmad Sa’adat and over 6,200 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails and the prisoners of Palestine in U.S. and other international jails. They are imprisoned in an attempt to silence and suppress the anti-colonial struggle of the Palestinian people for justice, liberation and return – yet their leadership remains a symbol of hope and inspiration to all those who struggle for freedom. Join the movement to free Georges Abdallah, free Palestinian political prisoners and free Palestine, from the river to the sea!

TAKE ACTION:

1. Organize events, actions and protests at French embassies and consulates around the world. Where there is not a French consulate, protest at U.S. or Israeli embassies and consulates and in public squares. Send us your events! Use this form or email [email protected]

2. Join the broad national protest in Lannemezan on 21 October. Every year, hundreds arrive to demand George’s freedom, raising a call so loud the prisoners can hear us inside. Don’t miss this year’s action!

3. Distribute this call to action and take media actions, like posting photos with posters calling for freedom for Georges Abdallah and other Palestinian prisoners.

4. Endorse this call! Join in the call for events and actions for the prisoners this October. Use the form or email [email protected]

Posters and Materials

New posters have been designed by the Free Georges Abdallah Campaign! Get them below, in French, English and Spanish: