As part of the International Day for the Liberation of Palestinian Prisoners multiple actions were organized in the Paris region for the release of the 4,450 Palestinians unjustly imprisoned by the Israeli occupation.
On Friday, April 15 from 6:30 p.m., the Campaign for the Liberation of Palestinian Children Imprisoned by Israel organized a rally at Place de la République in Paris, bringing together around a hundred people, including members of various organizations (Unitary Campaign for the Liberation of Georges Abdallah, BDS Paris Banlieue, AFPS, Europalestine, MRAP, Femmes Egalité, Association of Palestinians in Ile-de-France, Samidoun, etc.). In Arabic and French, poems by Dareen Tatour and Mahmoud Darwish were read by Abeer Hamad and Marie-France Cohen-Solal while a member of the Forum Palestine Citoyenneté read the call for the rally and spoke about the situation of Palestinian prisoners, especially children. Several banners and placards also highlighted various campaigns, for the release of Palestinian students and prominent imprisoned Palestinians like Ahmad Manasra, Israa Jaabis or Ahmad Sa’adat, Marwan Barghouthi, and Georges Abdallah, the imprisoned Lebanese Communist struggler for Palestine imprisoned in France for the past 37 years.
On Saturday April 16 at the Lycée Autogéré in Paris, the Ile-de-France support committee for the accused of 8.12 and AIM Paris organized a support concert featuring EMANCIPATING PIT FIGHTING FISH, GØLDI, TRACE, HUMAN DOG FOOD and a dj set from AIM Paris.
Invited by the organizers, Samidoun Région Parisienne held a solidarity stand for Palestinian prisoners alongside other organizations and collectives (OPI, Anticra, Désarmons-les, Assemblées des Blessées, Assemblée anticarcérale, Réseau d’entraide vérité et justice, etc.)
The reception from the public was very warm and friendly, many people showing their support for the resistance of the Palestinian people. Postcards sent to Palestinian women prisoners in Damon Prison received a lot of attention, garnering messages of support, drawings, and more. A beautiful evening with more to come!
Sunday April 17 was the occasion for a new solidarity initiative! On the occasion of the international day in solidarity with political prisoners, the April 17 Collective organized a day of exchanges and reflection in the premises of the Parisian section of the CNT. Many organizations and collectives fighting for the release of political prisoners were present: the Unitary Campaign for the Release of Georges Abdallah, the Solidarity Committee with the Basque People, the Anti-Imperialist Front, Free Koulchi and campaigns for the release of Leonard Peltier, Salah Hamouri and Moroccan, Sahrawi, Algerian, Mapuche, Mexican political prisoners, etc. At the same time, a screening of the documentary “Fedayin: Georges Abdallah’s Fight” took place at the beginning of the afternoon with the reading of a new statement from the longest-held political prisoner in Europe. As part of the mobilization from April 15 to 25 in support of the Collectif Palestine Vaincra, a banner was installed at the entrance to denounce the French government’s banning of this pro-Palestinian organization, in part specifically targeting their advocacy for Palestinian prisoners and Georges Abdallah.
As usual, the postcards, which will be sent at the end of the month, were filled with words of support and love. People welcomed to the stand wishing to show their support and solidarity with the detainees.
A writing workshop for postcards and letters for all detainees followed, organized by the organizations and collectives present was held in the evening. Postcards designed by artists had been screen printed a few hours earlier. Once the letters are sealed, they will go to Mexico, the USA, Morocco and other places, as well as to French and Spanish prisons. A beautiful moment of exchange, encounters and fascinating discussions.
Alongside these initiatives, other activities took place in the Paris region in support of Palestinian prisoners. For example, CAPJPO-EuroPalestine organized a support rally at the Fontaine des Innocents on Saturday 16 April in the afternoon. Many speeches took place to demand the release of the 4450 men, women and children from Israeli jails and denouncing the criminalization of the Palestine solidarity movement, in particular the recent dissolution of the Collectif Palestine Vaincra.
For their part, AFPS Paris-Sud and BDS Paris-Banlieue organized the screening of the film Palestine 48 in the presence of the director Francçois Gilles on Saturday, 16 April. Several posters in support of Palestinian prisoners decorated the room, calling for the release of Georges Abdallah, Salah Hamouri, Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Sa’adat. This afternoon ended with a photo of solidarity, declaring “No to the dissolution of Palestine Vaincra! Respect for freedom of expression!”
Samidoun Région Parisienne would like to warmly and affectionately thank the groups and organizations that welcomed us this weekend. Thank you to the AIM, the Ile-de-France Support Committee, the Unitary Campaign for the Liberation of Georges Abdallah , the CNT and the Collectif du 17 avril for their invitation and their welcome! Samidoun RP regularly mobilizes in support of the Palestinian people and their resistance for the liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea. Do not hesitate to contact us on our social networks (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) or by email at samidoun.rp@gmail.com if you wish to participate in our initiatives, such as our stands in Aubervilliers or sending letters of support to Palestinian prisoners.
