Imprisoned Palestinian leader Khalida Jarrar writes new letter: Write to Khalida and call for her freedom

Khalida Jarrar, the imprisoned Palestinian political leader, feminist and parliamentarian, jailed by the Israeli occupation for her political activity, issued a new letter to her daughter Suha, who died on Sunday, 11 July of a heart attack at the age of 30.

Despite worldwide outrage and condemnation and considering that Jarrar has only two months remaining in her sentence imposed by an Israeli military court for her public political work to advance Palestinian rights and liberation, her lawyers’ appeals for early release were denied by the Israeli occupation. She was not even allowed a furlough or to see her daughter’s body by transferring it to the prison before Suha was buried in a mass funeral on Tuesday, 13 July. Suha Jarrar was herself a Palestinian human rights defender who worked with Al-Haq and spoke around the world about Palestinian rights and the Palestinia freedom struggle.

Jarrar’s first letter to Suha, read aloud at the funeral, was widely distributed in its original Arabic and translated into multiple languages. Her new letter, to her husband Ghassan, and her daughter Yafa, extends support to her loved ones from behind the bars of Damon prison where she is jailed with 40 fellow Palestinian women prisoners.

The text of the letter follows:

“Suha was born into this world while her father was imprisoned, and now she is departing this world while her mother is imprisoned. This is an intense and encapsulated human summary of the life of the Palestinian who loves life, hope and freedom and hates subordination and colonialism. This occupation robs us of everything, even the oxygen we breathe. I must bid my dear Suha farewell with a rose grown in the soil of the homeland: Rest in peace, soaring bird of my heart.

As for you, Yafa, my second bird, I love you with every beat of my heart as I loved the sister of your soul, Suha, so be strong so that I may draw my strength from you.

And I say to Ghassan, be strong, take care of yourself and of Yafa, and do not worry for me. I say to all of you, give Suha everything she deserves, talk about her, her character and her beauty, and plant an olive tree beside her grave so that its branches may always give her shade. I love you.”

Palestinians and supporters of Palestine inside Palestine and around the world are rallying for Jarrar’s immediate release from Israeli prisons. On Wednesday, 14 July, Palestinian community organizations in Berlin organized a protest to call for freedom for Khalida Jarrar and her fellow Palestinian prisoners, and members of Samidoun Deutschland attended and participated in the event.

In France, activists protested along the route of the Tour de France for the boycott of Israel and against the participation of the so-called “Israel Start-Up Nation” team. Organizers with Collectif Palestine Vaincra, a member organization of the Samidoun Network, and other organizations, carried signs and took solidarity photos for Jarrar’s release.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network continues to urge friends of Palestine around the world to act to demand the immediate release of Khalida Jarrar and her fellow Palestinian prisoners.

Take action to support Khalida Jarrar:

Write letters of condolence, solidarity and support to Khalida Jarrar!

Send a postcard or letter to Khalida in Damon prison. Khalida should feel the love and support from everyone around the world who stands with her in this moment of tragedy and injustice. Write your letter and send it with appropriate international postage (With a stamp of 1.5 euros if sent from Europe, $1.20 from the USA, and $2.60 from Canada.)

to:

Khalida Jarrar
Damon Prison
PO Box 98
Daliat El-Carmel
Israel

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/p/human-rights-campaign-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1

Sign the petition to demand Khalida’s immediate release.

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

Are you in Canada? Write to the Canadian government to demand Khalida’s immediate release.

This petition addresses the United Nations and calls on human rights organizations like Amnesty International to take a stand for Khalida’s immediate freedom.

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!