Action for Canada — Write a letter to Canadian government: Unconditional release of Khalida Jarrar to attend the funeral of her daughter, Suha Jarrar

12 July 2021

*Family photo of Khalida, Ghassan and their daughters, Yafa and Suha.*

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is joining with Just Peace Advocates and Al-Haq to call on Canadian government officials to pressure Israeli occupation officials to release Khalida Jarrar immediately:

Write to Minister Garneau, Prime Minister Trudeau and UN Ambassador Bob Rae, calling them to work expeditiously to ensure from the Israeli authorities the immediate and unconditional release of Khalida Jarrar, so that she can attend the funeral of and mourn in dignity, her late daughter, Suha Jarrar.

Write:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/write-letter-to-canadian-government-unconditional-release-of-khalida-jarrar-to-attend-the-funeral-of-her-daughter-suha-jarrar/

Write to Canadian government to free Khalida Jarrar

Background

Death of Suha Jarrar, daughter of Khalida Jarrar

On 11 July 2021, Suha Jarrar, age 30, a senior legal researcher and advocacy officer with Al-Haq human rights organization and daughter of Ghassan and Khalida Jarrar, was unexpectedly found dead in her apartment near the Palestine Medical Complex, Ramallah, Palestine. She had been serving Al-Haq as a human rights advocate before the United Nations treaty-bodies and the Human Rights Council since February 2017, specializing in gender, environment and climate change.

Al-Haq has called on the UN Special Procedures to immediately and urgently intervene to exercise the authority associated with their mandate, to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Khalida Jarrar by the Israeli authorities, on humanitarian grounds so that she can attend the funeral of her daughter, and mourn in human dignity.

The Arbitrary Detention of Khalida Jarrar

#FreeKhalidaJarrar

Khalida Jarrar, a Palestinian civil society leader, lawmaker, and human rights activist who calls for women’s rights and for the realization of Palestinians’ rights, notably the Palestinian right to return, has been constantly and systematically harassed and targeted by the Israeli occupying authorities for her human rights work, especially in her leading role with regards to work related to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Khalida is currently held at Damon prison, serving a two-year sentence.

Khalida was first detained by the Israeli occupying forces in 1989 on the occasion of a Women’s Day demonstration for one month without trial. She was subsequently detained three additional times, for an accumulated period of 57 months: from 2 April 2015 to June 2016, from 2 July 2018 to 28 February 2019, and since 31 October 2019. Furthermore, Khalida was issued a travel ban since 1998, which was only lifted once in 2010 to enable her to seek medical treatment in Jordan. On 20 August 2014, she was ordered by the Israeli military to forcibly transfer to Jericho for a period of six months, on the basis of so-called security threat, finally reduced to one month.

Most recently, Khalida Jarrar was detained on 31 October 2019, when 12 Israeli military vehicles surrounded her house in Al-Bireh, and around 20-armed Israeli Occupying Forces raided the house at approximately 3:00 am. On 1 March 2021, Ofer military court sentenced Khalida to 24 months in prison and a NIS 4,000 fine. During the hearing session, the military prosecutor amended Khalida’s indictment, limiting it to her political role and work with the Palestinian Authority. Further declaring that there are no charges against her relating to affiliation to any military, financial nor organizational activities.

Al-Haq has made an Urgent Appeal to United Nations Special Procedures Calling for the Immediate and Unconditional Release of Human Rights Defender Khalida Jarrar, to Attend the Funeral of her Late Daughter, Suha Jarrar. Read full submission from Al-Haq.

Al-Haq has called on mandate holders to:

● Work expeditiously to ensure from the Israeli authorities the immediate and unconditional release of Khalida Jarrar, so that she can attend the funeral of and mourn in dignity, her late daughter, Suha Jarrar;

● Noting that in Islamic practice, funerals take place very closely after the deceased has passed, with the funeral of Suha Jarrar expected as early as Tuesday 13 July 2021. It is therefore imperative that the mandate holders intervene swiftly as a matter of urgency;

● To make every effort to bring Israel, the Occupying Power, into compliance with its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.

Write:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/write-letter-to-canadian-government-unconditional-release-of-khalida-jarrar-to-attend-the-funeral-of-her-daughter-suha-jarrar/

Also sign this international petition calling for Israel to release Palestinian leader and parliamentarian Khalida Jarrar.

Read more: Freedom for Khalida Jarrar! Appeal for immediate release upon the passing of Suha Jarrar, Samidoun.

We extend our deepest condolences to Khalida, Ghassan and Yafa Jarrar upon the tragic passing of Suha Jarrar, who died on Sunday, July 11.

www.justpeaceadvocates.ca

Joins with:

https://www.alhaq.org/

https://samidoun.net/

New outrage: Israeli occupation denies early release for Khalida Jarrar – take action to demand her freedom!

12 July 2021

Palestinian lawyers reported on Monday, 12 July that the Israeli occupation rejected their legal appeal seeking the early release of imprisoned Palestinian feminist and national leader, Khalida Jarrar, to participate in the funeral of her daughter, Suha Jarrar, who passed away on Sunday in Ramallah.

The Israeli occupation wants to deny even this basic human need to Khalida Jarrar, to see her daughter one last time. She is imprisoned on political charges and has only two months remaining in her sentence, imposed by an illegitimate Israeli military court for her public activities and advocacy for Palestinian liberation.

Immediate actions:

This latest attack on Jarrar and her family came as thousands of people around the world have signed a petition, demanded their governments take action and expressed their outrage at the ongoing repression directed at Khalida Jarrar and her family, even at a moment of great tragedy. Suha Jarrar, 30, was a committed Palestinian human rights defender who worked with Al-Haq and spoke around the world, defending and upholding Palestinian rights and liberation.

In occupied Palestine ’48 and the occupied West Bank of Palestine, protesters gathered outside Damon prison – where Khalida Jarrar is detained – and Ofer prison, demanding her freedom. They were attacked by Israeli occupation forces, who fired tear gas and sound bombs against the Palestinians calling for a mother to be allowed to attend her daughter’s funeral.

In Gaza City, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine organized a protest outside the International Committee of the Red Cross, demanding action from the ICRC to secure Jarrar’s release. Representatives of all Palestinian factions and prisoner support organizations joined the protest, and Palestinian child Nadine Abdel Latif spoke in English, demanding Khalida be free to say farewell to her beloved daughter.

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Suha Jarrar is scheduled to be buried Tuesday afternoon, 13 July, with a funeral procession from the family home in Ramallah to the Al-Ain Mosque in Al-Bireh to the Ramallah cemetery.

Palestinian prisoners are routinely denied early release or even furlough to attend the funerals of their family members and loved ones, as well as being denied family visits with their living relatives behind bars. On the contrary, Israeli Jewish criminal prisoners (rather than “security prisoners,” the term used by the Israeli occupation to denote Palestinian political prisoners) are routinely given furloughs and early release to attend funerals or visit their families.

We urge all supporters of Palestine to amplify and intensify the international call to demand freedom for Khalida Jarrar.

TAKE ACTION:

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://bit.ly/FreeKhalidaJarrar

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!

Freedom for Khalida Jarrar! Appeal for immediate release upon the passing of Suha Jarrar

12 July 2021

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network extends its deepest condolences to Khalida, Ghassan and Yafa Jarrar upon the tragic passing of Suha Jarrar, who died on Sunday, July 11 at the age of 31.

Suha, Khalida and Ghassan’s daughter, Yafa’s sister, was a tireless advocate for Palestinian rights and liberation, speaking around the world to advance Palestinian freedom.

At this horrendous moment for her and her family, Khalida Jarrar, Palestinian leader, feminist, parliamentarian and organizer, remains imprisoned in Israeli jails as a political leader, denied even the comfort of her loved ones. We extend our condolences to all who knew, loved and honored Suha and demand the immediate release of Khalida Jarrar to be among her family at this time.

Sign the petition to demand Khalida’s immediate release.

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

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Al-Haq, the Palestinian human rights organization, where Suha Jarrar worked, has filed an urgent appeal with UN Special Procedures for Khalida Jarrar’s immediate release.

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We are also joining in the below appeal circulated by many Palestinian groups and organizers:

Instead of surrendering to the belief that revolutionary leader and former Palestinian Legislative Council member Khalida Jarrar will be denied the right to bury her daughter Suha, whose death was announced this evening, let us work locally and internationally to form the necessary pressure that will make it possible.

Khalida is a Palestinian political prisoner, who was arrested for her national political activism. She has the right to participate in her daughter’s funeral.

Khalida has been incarcerated for nearly two years and is due for release within two months. She has been arrested by the Israeli regime on many occasions, during which time she has been subjected to various forms of abuse and persecution.

The Israeli regime’s prison administration should release Khalida as soon as possible so that she can bury and mourn her daughter and exercise her most fundamental human rights.

Freedom for Khalida Jarrar