International Call for Action | Take Action | Events | Materials and Resources
On 24 October 2018, we will mark the 34th 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 17-24 October 2018, join Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, the campaign to Free Georges Abdallah and organizations in France and around the world. Organize protests, campaign on social media and distribute information this week in your community to demand freedom for Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and all Palestinian prisoners!
“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.…Until we meet one day in the world of freedom, you remain a symbol and a model for us to follow.” – Ahmad Sa’adat (imprisoned PFLP General Secretary) to Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
Georges Abdallah has been committed throughout his life to the revolutionary struggle in Lebanon and the liberation of Palestine – and to a revolutionary vision of human liberation. He worked 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.
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 parole applications have been denied repeatedly. Even when he has achieved a victory in court, French officials like former Prime Minister Manuel Valls have intervened at the highest levels to block his release. U.S. officials like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have also intervened in an attempt to keep Georges Abdallah in prison. 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 34 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.
This year, 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 from 17 to 24 October, 2018. The central event of the week will be the 20 October mass march in Lannemezan for Georges Abdallah’s freedom. Events are also being organized in countries around the world, and past weeks have included actions in the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Gree
Georges Abdallah is not alone; his imprisonment is part and parcel of that of nearly 6,000 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails and the prisoners of Palestine in U.S. and other international jails – as well as the prisoners of struggles against capitalism, racism and imperialism around the world.
Georges Abdallah and his fellow prisoners are imprisoned in an attempt to silence and suppress the anti-colonial struggle of the Palestinian people for justice, liberation and return. However, despite all repression, 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!
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 samidoun@samidoun.net
2. Join the broad national protest in Lannemezan on 20 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 samidoun@samidoun.net
5. Share the materials below and use our social media materials, like the poster at the top of this page or our Facebook cover photo, below:
Martigues: Speaking About Georges Abdallah
Sunday, 7 October
1:30 pm
Le Rallumeur d’étoiles – Café associatif
Quai Brescon
13500 Martigues, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/311946046268481/
Marseille: A Month for Georges Abdallah
October 2018
Marseille, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/151408189138566/
Berlin: Protest to free Raja Eghbarieh, Georges Abdallah and all Palestinian Prisoners
Saturday, 13 October
12:00 pm
Alexanderplatz
Berlin, Germany
Manchester: Victory to Palestine! Free Georges Abdallah!
Saturday, 13 October
12:00 pm
Piccadilly Gardens
Manchester, UK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/863503310705696/
Toulouse: Information stand for Georges Abdallah
Saturday, 13 October
2:00 pm
Metro Capitole
Toulouse, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1234469550011712/
Birzeit: Seminar on Georges Abdallah and Palestinian Strugglers from Outside Palestine
Wednesday, 17 October
1:00 pm
Birzeit University
Faculty of Arts
Hall no. 102
Birzeit, Palestine
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/199661224153549/
Shatila: Lecture on the case of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
Friday, 19 October
5:00 pm
Palestinian Chess Club
Shatila Refugee Camp
Lebanon
Gothenburg: Victory to the Palestinian liberation struggle!
Friday, 19 October
5:30 pm
Brunnsparken
Gothenburg, Sweden
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/309184616544806/
Paris: Bus departing to the national protest in Lannemezan
Friday night, 19 October
Paris, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2127880644153411/
Lannemezan: National protest for the liberation of Georges Abdallah
Saturday, 20 October
2:00 pm
Gare de Lannemezan
Lannemezan, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/656186514764030/
More buses from Toulouse: leaves 11:30 am from Metro Basso Cambo, email couppourcoup31@gmail.com
from Paris: email campagne.unitaire.gabdallah@gmail.com
from Montpellier: email npa@npa34.org
from Bordeaux: leaves 9:15 am from place Ravezies, email liberte.pour.georges@gmail.com
from Marseille: more info at https://www.lepotcommun.fr/pot/99sds8ij
Tunis: Protest at the French Embassy in Solidarity with Georges Abdallah
Saturday, 20 October
2:30 pm
French Embassy
Avenue Habib Bourguiba
Tunis, Tunisia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/327480194683643/
Milan: Freedom for the Revolutionary Prisoners! 34 years of repression, 34 years of resistance
Saturday, 20 October
3:00 pm
Viale Padova
Milan, Italy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/183754312502914/
Brussels: Concert in solidarity with Mustapha Awad
Saturday, 20 October
6:30 pm
Projection Room
55 rue de Praetere
Uccle, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/295688327687183/
Saida: Cultural Evening of Solidarity for Georges Abdallah
Saturday, 20 October
6:00 pm
Maarouf Saad Cultural Center
Saida, Lebanon
Ramallah: Protest to Free Georges Abdallah
Sunday, 21 October
5:00 pm
Manara Square
Ramallah, Palestine
Geneva: Letter Writing Evening for Georges Abdallah
Wednesday, 24 October
8:00 pm
Cafe Gavroche
Boulevard James-Fazy 4
Geneva, Switzerland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/695368644169180/
Athens: Demonstration for Freedom for Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
Wednesday, 24 October
6:00 pm
French Embassy
Akadimias and Leof. Vasilissis Sofias
Athens, Greece
Belfast: Irish Solidarity for the Release of Georges Abdallah
Wednesday, 24 October
7:00 pm
International Wall
Belfast, Ireland
More info: https://irsp.ie/irish-solidarity-for-the-release-of-georges-abdallah-protest-belfast-intl-wall-wed-24th-7pm/
Download Materials for Your Events for Georges Abdallah!
Flyer for distribution: Click here to Download PDF
Posters for Georges Abdallah Protests
Poster 1: Click here to Download PDF
Poster 2: Click here to Download PDF
Poster 3: Click here to Download PDF
Poster 4: Click here to Download PDF