Facebook Instagram Mail RSS Telegram Twitter Youtube
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Home Blog Page 151

24 January, Paris: Rally for the liberation of Ahmad Sa’adat, Georges Abdallah and all Palestinian prisoners

Sunday, 24 January
3:00 pm
Place Jean Ferrat – Metro L2 Menilmontant
Paris, France
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1135211573605908

The Unitary Campaign for the Liberation of Georges Abdallah will fully participate in the international week of action for the release of Ahmad Sa’adat between 15 and 23 January 2021, called for by Samidoun. This rally in Paris will demand the release of imprisoned comrades, Ahmad Sa’adat, Georges Abdallah and all Palestinian prisoners.

les camarades de Samidoun appellent cette année encore à une semaine internationale d’actions pour la libération d’Ahmad Sa’adat entre le 15 et le 23 janvier 2021. Cette année encore, la Campagne Unitaire participera pleinement à cette initiative et pour ce faire, appelle à un rassemblement à Paris pour exiger la libération de nos camarades Ahmad Sa’adat, Georges Abdallah et de tous les prisonniers palestiniens.

RASSEMBLEMENT POUR LA LIBERATION D’AHMAD SA’ADAT, DE GEORGES ABDALLAH ET DE TOUS LES PRISONNIERS PALESTINIENS !

Ahmad SA’ADAT, secrétaire général du Front Populaire, est un combattant pour la libération de la Palestine, un leader du mouvement de libération nationale palestinien et un symbole du mouvement révolutionnaire international.

Il a été condamné à 30 ans de prison par un tribunal militaire de l’entité sioniste, accusé d’être à la direction d’une organisation interdite et pour « incitation à la haine ». Depuis le 15 janvier 2002, cela fait maintenant 19 ans qu’il a été arrêté par l’Autorité palestinienne dans le cadre de la « coopération en matière de sécurité » avec l’occupant sioniste. Et depuis 2006, après une violente attaque contre la prison de Jéricho de l’Autorité palestinienne, Ahmad SA’ADAT et ses camarades purgent désormais leurs lourdes peines dans les geôles de l’entité sioniste.

Il se tient, aujourd’hui, aux côtés de près de plus de 5000 autres prisonniers politiques palestiniens, sur la ligne de front de la lutte de la libération nationale. En tant que tel, il est un symbole de la résistance palestinienne, arabe et internationaliste à l’impérialisme, au capitalisme, au racisme, à l’apartheid et à la colonisation.

Et alors que parallèlement les attaques contre le peuple palestinien se poursuivent et s’intensifient, pas un jour ne se passe sans qu’il ne soutienne les Palestiniens de Gaza dans leur combat quotidien pour briser le siège qui leur est imposé depuis de nombreuses années ; pas un jour ne se passe sans qu’il ne soutienne les réfugiés palestiniens dans leur lutte pour leur droit juste et légitime au retour. Pas un jour ne se passe sans qu’il ne condamne fermement tout ce que subit le peuple palestinien, que ce soit les confiscations des terres, la criminalisation des luttes, les démolitions de maisons, les emprisonnements de masse et les exécutions extrajudiciaires et sommaires. Pas un jour ne se passe sans qu’il condamne toutes les normalisations des régimes réactionnaires arabes avec l’entité sioniste. Pas un jour ne se passe enfin sans qu’il ne dénonce l’impunité dont bénéficie l’entité sioniste sous couvert de l’appui des impérialistes de tout bord.

Son combat et celui de tous les prisonniers palestiniens est aussi celui de Georges Abdallah – le combat d’un attachement indéfectible à la juste cause des peuples opprimés de Palestine, du Liban, et partout dans le monde.

Plus que jamais, l’exigence de la libération de ces camarades doit être défendue et réaffirmée et en ce sens, nous appelons toutes celles et tous ceux qui sont du côté des peuples en lutte, du côté de la résistance palestinienne, qui combattent le capitalisme, l’impérialisme, le sionisme, le racisme d’Etat, le colonialisme et les États réactionnaires arabes, à lutter pour exiger leur libération et notamment à participer au RASSEMBLEMENT PRÉVU À PARIS, LE DIMANCHE 24 JANVIER 2021, PLACE JEAN FERRAT (métro Ménilmontant – ligne 2), À 15H00.

C’est ensemble et seulement ensemble que nous vaincrons !

Campagne unitaire pour la libération de Georges Ibrahim Abdallah
Contact : campagne.unitaire.gabdallah@gmail.com

 

GEORGES ABDALLAH,
UN PRISONNIER D’EXCEPTION

Georges Abdallah est un militant communiste libanais qui, au sein de son organisation, les Fractions armées révolutionnaires libanaises (FARL), a lutté contre les criminels impérialistes et leurs alliés sionistes.

Il s’est engagé dès la fin des années soixante dans la résistance palestinienne et libanaise contre la colonisation et l’occupation sionistes.

Arrêté à Lyon le 24 octobre 1984, il est condamné à 4 ans de prison, puis en 1987 à la réclusion à perpétuité par un tribunal spécial, pour complicité dans l’exécution d’un agent des services secrets israéliens et d’un attaché militaire états-unien.

Le montage policier et judiciaire qui a permis sa condamnation a depuis été dénoncé par de hauts personnages de l’État.

En 2003, la juridiction de Pau autorise sa libération, mais sur ordre du ministre de la Justice suite à une intervention des États-Unis, l’appel du procureur général fait annuler cette décision.

En 2009, la cour d’appel rejette une nouvelle fois une demande de libération conditionnelle.

En 2012, Georges Abdallah dépose une nouvelle demande de libération. Lors d’une visite officielle en France, le premier ministre libanais réaffirme l’accord de son pays pour le retour de Georges Abdallah.

En novembre 2012, le tribunal d’application des peines donne un avis favorable à sa libération, en l’attente d’un arrêté d’expulsion… que Valls, ministre de l’Intérieur, refuse de signer. Le 4 avril 2013, après trois ajournements, deux appels et un recours en cassation, la demande de libération de Georges Abdallah est déclarée irrecevable.

Le 5 novembre 2014, une nouvelle demande de libération est déclarée “irrecevable” au motif qu’il n’avait pas fait préalablement l’objet d’un arrêté d’expulsion. La cour d’appel confirme ce jugement le 26 février 2015.

Sa peine de sûreté étant accomplie depuis 1999, Georges Abdallah est pourtant libérable depuis plus de 21 ans.

La justice française, aux ordres d’un gouvernement soucieux de préserver les intérêts impérialistes français au Moyen-Orient, maintient Georges Abdallah en prison depuis 37 ans. Aujourd’hui, il est le plus ancien prisonnier politique en Europe.

Frankfurt: Call to free Palestinian prisoners at Liebknecht-Luxemburg-Demo

On Saturday, 9 January, Samidoun Deutschland joined with Free Palestine FFM in Frankfurt, Germany, at a rally on the 102nd anniversary of the assassination of internationalist revolutionaries, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. They carried signs calling for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, including Ahmad Sa’adat, the imprisoned General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. These events are kicking off the call for the International Week of Solidarity with Ahmad Sa’adat between 15 and 23 January.

Samidoun Deutschland members issued a call:

“Luxemburg and Liebknecht stood clearly against imperialism and both spent time in prison because of their revolutionary work.

So today, we think not only of these emancipatory, anti-imperialist figures, but also of all global and, particularly, Palestinian political prisoners unjustly locked in dungeons for their revolutionary, emancipatory work.

One of them is Ahmad Sa’adat, who has been serving a 30-year sentence as a political prisoner in an occupation prison since 2008.

Another critical case is that of Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has been behind bars as a political prisoner in the U.S. settler colony for almost 40 yeas. These penalties imposed by imperialist states are completely illegitimate!

Let us unite our struggles — free Ahmad Sa’adat, free Georges Abdallah, and free Mumia Abu-Jamal and all other political prisoners! Against occupation, imperialism and exploitation everywhere. None of us are free until all of us are free!”

10 January, Berlin: Samidoun Deutschland call for participation in Luxemburg-Liebknecht-Demo

Samidoun Deutschland calls on all to participate and mobilize for the annual march in memory of the internationalist revolutionaries, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.

Please bring Palestinian flags and join the internationalist block. For the Palestinian people’s fight against Zionist fascism, for return and liberation, we will be visible tomorrow, Sunday, 10 January, in the streets of Berlin!

On Sunday, 10 January 2020 at 10 am. The march begins at U-Frankfurter Tor, continuing down Frankfurter Allee, Alte Frankfurter Allee, and Gudrunstrasse to the Memorial for Socialists at the Friedrichsfelde cemetery.

#FacebookCensorsPalestine – Palestinians call for 2-hour Facebook boycott on 9 January

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is joining the two-hour Facebook boycott protest called by the Palestinian Content Protection Initiative on Saturday, 9 January 2021. Palestinian organizations and supporters of Palestine are campaigning to highlight the ongoing deletion and censoring of Palestinian organizations’ Facebook pages. Most recently, the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine was blocked by the tech giant, part of an ongoing attack by Silicon Valley companies on Palestinian and anti-imperialist expression. Please join us by not posting on Facebook between 5 pm and 7 pm Palestine time (3 pm to 5 pm UTC) on Saturday, 9 January:. The following article is reposted from VPalestine: 

The Palestinian Content Protection Initiative has called on the Palestinian media outlets and activists to observe a two-hour pause next Saturday by not posting on their Facebook pages and accounts from 5 pm to 7 pm, in protest of the social media’s crackdown on the Palestinian content.

The Initiative said in a statement issued by the Palestinian non-governmental organization, Sada Social, that the Saturday campaign includes a halt on publishing from 5 pm to 7 pm, in addition to a focused media coverage and campaign to explain the reasons and justifications for this pause.

“The administrations of social media websites have been pursuing, targeting, and restricting the publishing and access of Palestinian pages and accounts, and in full coordination with the Israeli occupation government,” said the Initiative. “As a result, Palestinian media have been restricted, and were unable to convey their national message.”

The Initiative pointed out that “the Facebook campaign has even expanded further to removing and blocking pages and restricting the access to the publications of media pages and news networks. Specialized centers have monitored a 50 percent drop in access.”

“Because we are strong and have a right message, and because we defend a just cause against a brutal occupation, it is our duty to stand united to defend our message, and to communicate our voice in an effective and strong way to the administrations of these platforms,” the Initiative remarked.

The Palestinian Content Protection Initiative is a newly established gathering of Palestinian media outlets, initiatives, and activists working together to protect the Palestinian content.

Joint Statement: Solidarity with Palestine Antikolonial in Münster


English | Deutsch | Svenska | العربية | Español | Français

Joint Statement

We, the undersigned groups, express our clear and complete solidarity with the “Palästina Antikolonial” group in Münster, Germany, after an anti-Palestinian repressive attack – aligned with other such attacks in Germany – has attempted to restrict their legitimate student and political work at the University of Münster. This was done through a false and malicious anti-Semitism accusation formulated by the AStA (the Student Council at the University). This is a common pro-Zionist practice, used to attack pro-Palestinian work while concealing their own anti-Semitism and racism.

This attack comes not only in full compliance with the reactionary anti-BDS resolution of the German Parliament, the Bundestag, but also in an unreflected and pathetic assumption of the logic of imperialist “terrorist lists”. On this basis, the AStA Münster decided that the name of the “Palästina Antikolonial” group must be placed on a list of “anti-Semitic groups” in an attempt to bar them from holding events or organizing at the University. This is an attack that is directed not only against “Palästina Antikolonial”, but also against all Palestinian students in Germany.

We call on all free, emancipatory, and anti-racist voices to join us and sign this declaration. We categorically reject the false accusation of anti-Semitism, demand an immediate apology from the AStAs for this affront, and warn against any tolerance for racist anti-Palestinian repression at German universities.

From the left: Samidoun Deutschland (Germany), Palästina Antikolonial (Germany), Zusammen kämpfen Magdeburg (Germany), Volksrat der Suryoye in Europa (Germany), Free Palestine Movement FFM (Germany), Studis gegen rechte hetze (Germany), Antifa Jugend Augsburg (Germany), Internationale Jugendgruppe Siegen (Germany), Das Palästina Portal (Germany), Institut für Palästinakunde e.V. (Germany), Palästina spricht NRW (Germany), Rote Jugend Schwaben(Germany), Duisburger Netzwerk gegen Rechts (Germany), Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (international), Palestinian Youth Movement (US),  Al-Awda – the Palestine Right to Return Coalition (US), Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine (US), Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization (Spain), US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (US), Collectif Palestine Vaincra (France), International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Northern California, Canada Palestine Association (Canada),  Students Against Israeli Apartheid – University of Toronto (Canada), Palestine Solidarity Collective at York University (US), National Students for Justice in Palestine (US) – National SJP (US), Internationalt Forum – Middle East Group (Denmark),  Dar al Janub – Verein für antirassistische und friedenspolitische Initiative (Austria), McGill Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (Canada), University of Waterloo Students for Palestinian Rights (Canada), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – University of British Columbia (Canada), Laurier Palestinian Students Association (Canada), Yeni Demokratik Gençlik YDG (Germany), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – SPHR Queen’s University (Canada), Atik – Confederation of workers from Turkey in Europe (European), Revolutionaire Eenheid (Netherlands), Palästina Spricht (Germany), Netzwerk Freiheit für alle politischen Gefangenen (Germany), Queerproletariatet (Sweden)

Gemeinsame Stellungnahme

Wir, die unten unterschreibenden Gruppen, möchten hiermit unsere totale Solidarität mit der Gruppe Palästina Antikolonial deutlich zum Ausdruck bringen, nachdem die in Deutschland bekannte anti- Palästinensische Repression versucht hat, ihre legitime studentische und politische Arbeit an der Universität Münster einzuschränken. Dies geschah durch einen vom AStA formulierten Antisemitismus-Vorwurf: eine beliebte pro-zionistische Praxis, um pro-Palästinensische Arbeit anzugreifen und dabei gleichzeitig den eigenen Antisemitismus zu verdecken.

Nicht nur in voller Übereinstimmung mit dem reaktionären Anti-BDS-Beschluss des Bundestages, sondern auch in einer unreflektierten und armseligen Annahme der Logik der imperialistischen “Terror-Listen,” entscheidet der AStA-Münster, dass der Name Palästina Antikolonial zu einer Liste der “antisemitischen Gruppen” gehören muss. Dies ist ein Angriff, der sich nicht nur gegen Palästina Antikolonial richtet, sondern auch gegen alle palästinensischen Studierenden in Deutschland.

Wir fordern alle freien, emanzipatorischen und antirassistischen Stimmen auf, sich uns anzuschließen und diese Erklärung zu unterzeichnen. Wir lehnen diesen Vorwurf kategorisch ab, verlangen eine sofortige Entschuldigung des AStAs wegen dieses Fehlers und warnen davor, die rassistische anti-Palästinensische Repression an den deutschen Universitäten zu tolerieren.

From the left: Samidoun Deutschland (Germany), Palästina Antikolonial (Germany), Zusammen kämpfen Magdeburg (Germany), Volksrat der Suryoye in Europa (Germany), Free Palestine Movement FFM (Germany), Studis gegen rechte hetze (Germany), Antifa Jugend Augsburg (Germany), Internationale Jugendgruppe Siegen (Germany), Das Palästina Portal (Germany), Institut für Palästinakunde e.V. (Germany), Palästina spricht NRW (Germany), Rote Jugend Schwaben(Germany), Duisburger Netzwerk gegen Rechts (Germany), Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (international), Palestinian Youth Movement (US),  Al-Awda – the Palestine Right to Return Coalition (US), Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine (US), Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization (Spain), US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (US), Collectif Palestine Vaincra (France), International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Northern California, Canada Palestine Association (Canada),  Students Against Israeli Apartheid – University of Toronto (Canada), Palestine Solidarity Collective at York University (US), National Students for Justice in Palestine (US) – National SJP (US), Internationalt Forum – Middle East Group (Denmark),  Dar al Janub – Verein für antirassistische und friedenspolitische Initiative (Austria), McGill Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (Canada), University of Waterloo Students for Palestinian Rights (Canada), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – University of British Columbia (Canada), Laurier Palestinian Students Association (Canada), Yeni Demokratik Gençlik YDG (Germany), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – SPHR Queen’s University (Canada), Atik – Confederation of workers from Turkey in Europe (European), Revolutionaire Eenheid (Netherlands), Palästina Spricht (Germany), Netzwerk Freiheit für alle politischen Gefangenen (Germany), Queerproletariatet (Sweden)

Gemensamt uttalande

Vi, de undertecknande grupperna, uttrycker tydlig och fullständig solidaritet med gruppen ”Palestine Antikolonial” i Münster, Tyskland, efter ett antipalestinskt repressivt angrepp – i linje med andra liknande angrepp i Tyskland – försökte begränsa deras legitima studentverksamhet och politiska arbete vid Münsters universitet. Detta utfördes genom en falsk och illvillig antisemitismanklagelse som uttrycktes av AStA (universitetets studentkår).

Det är en vanlig prosionistisk praktik som använts till att angripa propalestinsk verksamhet samtidigt som den döljer den egna antisemitismen och rasismen. Angreppet är inte bara i full överenskommelse med den reaktionära anti-BDS-resolutionen som antagits av det tyska parlamentet, Bundestagen, utan också med ett oreflekterat och patetiskt anammande av imperialistiska ”terrorlistors” logik. På denna grund bestämde AStA Münster att gruppen  “Palästina Antikolonial” namn ska placeras på en lista med ”antisemitiska grupper” i ett försök att utesluta dem från att anordna aktiviteter eller organisera på universitetet. Detta är ett angrepp riktat inte bara mot Palestine Antikolonial utan även mot alla palestinska studenter i Tyskland.

Vi kallar på alla fria, progressiva och antirasistiska röster att stå med oss och underteckna detta uttalande. Vi fördömer kategoriskt dessa falska anklagelser om antisemitism, kräver en omedelbar ursäkt från AStA för denna kränkning och varnar för någon som helst tolerans gentemot rasistiska antipalestinska uttryck på tyska universitet.

From the left: Samidoun Deutschland (Germany), Palästina Antikolonial (Germany), Zusammen kämpfen Magdeburg (Germany), Volksrat der Suryoye in Europa (Germany), Free Palestine Movement FFM (Germany), Studis gegen rechte hetze (Germany), Antifa Jugend Augsburg (Germany), Internationale Jugendgruppe Siegen (Germany), Das Palästina Portal (Germany), Institut für Palästinakunde e.V. (Germany), Palästina spricht NRW (Germany), Rote Jugend Schwaben(Germany), Duisburger Netzwerk gegen Rechts (Germany), Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (international), Palestinian Youth Movement (US),  Al-Awda – the Palestine Right to Return Coalition (US), Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine (US), Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization (Spain), US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (US), Collectif Palestine Vaincra (France), International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Northern California, Canada Palestine Association (Canada),  Students Against Israeli Apartheid – University of Toronto (Canada), Palestine Solidarity Collective at York University (US), National Students for Justice in Palestine (US) – National SJP (US), Internationalt Forum – Middle East Group (Denmark),  Dar al Janub – Verein für antirassistische und friedenspolitische Initiative (Austria), McGill Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (Canada), University of Waterloo Students for Palestinian Rights (Canada), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – University of British Columbia (Canada), Laurier Palestinian Students Association (Canada), Yeni Demokratik Gençlik YDG (Germany), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – SPHR Queen’s University (Canada), Atik – Confederation of workers from Turkey in Europe (European), Revolutionaire Eenheid (Netherlands), Palästina Spricht (Germany), Netzwerk Freiheit für alle politischen Gefangenen (Germany), Queerproletariatet (Sweden)

بيان مُشترك

نحن، المجموعات الموقعة أدناه، نُعرب عن تضامننا الكامل مع “Palästina Antikolonial”    في مونستر- ألمانيا، بعد الهجوم القمعي تجاههم، والمحاولات البائسة لتقييد عملهم الطلابي النقابي  والسياسي في جامعة مونستر، ويأتي هذا الهجوم ضمن سلسلة من المعاداة المتواصلة ضد الفلسطينيين والمجموعات الفلسطينية في ألمانيا. وذلك عن طريق كيل اتهامات خبيثة بمُعادة السامية صاغه AStAs (مجلس الطلاب في الجامعة)، وهي أداة تنتهجها المجموعات المؤيدة للصهيونية والعنصرية  لمهاجمة حركة التضامن والمجموعات الفلسطينية استمرارًا في سعيها للنيل من القضية الفلسطيني

لا يأتي هذا الهجوم فقط في إطار الامتثال الكامل للقرار الرّجعي المُناهض لحركة مقاطعة الاحتلال الصهيوني من قِبل البرلمان الألماني، “البوندستاغ”، بل أيضًا في افتراض مثير للشفقة لمنطق “القوائم الإرهابية” الإمبريالية. وعليه، قرّر “AStA Münster” أن مجموعة “Palästina Antikolonial” يجب أن توضع على قائمة “الجماعات المعادية للسامية” في محاولة لمنعهم من ممارسة عملهم الطلابي النقابي والسياسي و إقامة الفعاليات ومن حقهم في التنظيم داخل الجامعة.

إن هذا الهجوم لا يطال فقط “Palästina Antikolonial”، بل هو عمل ممنهج وموجه ضد جميع الطلبة الفلسطينيين في ألمانيا، وحركات التضامن الطلابية مع القضية الفلسطينية.

ندعو جميع الأصوات الحُرة التحررية والمناهضة للعنصرية والإمبريالية إلى إعلاء صوتها ومشاركتنا التوقيع على هذا البيان الرافض بشكل قاطع الاتهام الكاذب والتحريضي بمُعاداة السامية، ونطالب بالاعتذار الفوري من AStAs عن هذا الهجوم والقمع، ونُحذر من أي تساوق واستمرار للقمع العنصري ضد الفلسطينيين في الجامعات الألمانية.

From the left: Samidoun Deutschland (Germany), Palästina Antikolonial (Germany), Zusammen kämpfen Magdeburg (Germany), Volksrat der Suryoye in Europa (Germany), Free Palestine Movement FFM (Germany), Studis gegen rechte hetze (Germany), Antifa Jugend Augsburg (Germany), Internationale Jugendgruppe Siegen (Germany), Das Palästina Portal (Germany), Institut für Palästinakunde e.V. (Germany), Palästina spricht NRW (Germany), Rote Jugend Schwaben(Germany), Duisburger Netzwerk gegen Rechts (Germany), Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (international), Palestinian Youth Movement (US),  Al-Awda – the Palestine Right to Return Coalition (US), Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine (US), Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization (Spain), US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (US), Collectif Palestine Vaincra (France), International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Northern California, Canada Palestine Association (Canada),  Students Against Israeli Apartheid – University of Toronto (Canada), Palestine Solidarity Collective at York University (US), National Students for Justice in Palestine (US) – National SJP (US), Internationalt Forum – Middle East Group (Denmark),  Dar al Janub – Verein für antirassistische und friedenspolitische Initiative (Austria), McGill Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (Canada), University of Waterloo Students for Palestinian Rights (Canada), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – University of British Columbia (Canada), Laurier Palestinian Students Association (Canada), Yeni Demokratik Gençlik YDG (Germany), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – SPHR Queen’s University (Canada), Atik – Confederation of workers from Turkey in Europe (European), Revolutionaire Eenheid (Netherlands), Palästina Spricht (Germany), Netzwerk Freiheit für alle politischen Gefangenen (Germany), Queerproletariatet (Sweden)

Manifiesto de solidaridad

Los grupos abajo firmantes expresamos nuestra clara y completa solidaridad con el grupo “Palästina Antikolonial” de Münster, Alemania, tras un ataque represivo anti-palestino -en la línea de otros ataques similares en Alemania- que ha intentado restringir su legítimo trabajo político y estudiantil en la Universidad de Münster. Esto se hizo mediante una acusación de antisemitismo falsa y malintencionada realizada por el Consejo Estudiantil de la Universidad. Esta es una práctica pro-sionista muy común, utilizada para atacar el trabajo pro-palestino mientras ocultan su propio antisemitismo y racismo. Este ataque viene dado, no sólo con total conformidad con la reaccionaria resolución anti-BDS del Parlamento Alemán, el Bundestag, sino también como una asunción, irreflexiva y patética, de la lógica del Imperialismo y sus “listas de organizaciones terroristas”. Y basándose en estas, el Consejo Estudiantil de Münster decidió que el grupo ” Palästina Antikolonial ” debía ser incluido en una lista de “grupos antisemitas”, en un intento de impedir que puedan organizar eventos en la Universidad. Este ataque está dirigido no sólo contra “Palästina Antikolonial”, sino también contra cada estudiante palestino en Alemania. Llamamos a todas las voces libres, libertadoras y antirracistas a unirse a nosotras y firmar esta declaración. Rechazamos categóricamente la falsa acusación de antisemitismo, exigimos una disculpa inmediata por parte del Consejo Estudiantil por esta ofensa y advertimos contra cualquier tipo de tolerancia a la represión racista y anti-palestina en las universidades alemanas.

From the left: Samidoun Deutschland (Germany), Palästina Antikolonial (Germany), Zusammen kämpfen Magdeburg (Germany), Volksrat der Suryoye in Europa (Germany), Free Palestine Movement FFM (Germany), Studis gegen rechte hetze (Germany), Antifa Jugend Augsburg (Germany), Internationale Jugendgruppe Siegen (Germany), Das Palästina Portal (Germany), Institut für Palästinakunde e.V. (Germany), Palästina spricht NRW (Germany), Rote Jugend Schwaben(Germany), Duisburger Netzwerk gegen Rechts (Germany), Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (international), Palestinian Youth Movement (US),  Al-Awda – the Palestine Right to Return Coalition (US), Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine (US), Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization (Spain), US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (US), Collectif Palestine Vaincra (France), International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Northern California, Canada Palestine Association (Canada),  Students Against Israeli Apartheid – University of Toronto (Canada), Palestine Solidarity Collective at York University (US), National Students for Justice in Palestine (US) – National SJP (US), Internationalt Forum – Middle East Group (Denmark),  Dar al Janub – Verein für antirassistische und friedenspolitische Initiative (Austria), McGill Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (Canada), University of Waterloo Students for Palestinian Rights (Canada), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – University of British Columbia (Canada), Laurier Palestinian Students Association (Canada), Yeni Demokratik Gençlik YDG (Germany), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – SPHR Queen’s University (Canada), Atik – Confederation of workers from Turkey in Europe (European), Revolutionaire Eenheid (Netherlands), Palästina Spricht (Germany), Netzwerk Freiheit für alle politischen Gefangenen (Germany), Queerproletariatet (Sweden)

Déclaration commune

Nous, les groupes signataires ci-dessous, exprimons notre claire et complète solidarité avec le groupe “Palästina Antikolonial” de Münster, Allemagne, après avoir été la cible d’une attaque de la répression anti-Palestinienne, bien connue en Allemagne, qui avait cette foistenté d’empêcher le travail étudiant et politique du groupe au sein de l’université de Münster. Ceci prenait la forme d’une fausse et malicieuse accusation d’antisémitisme formulée par leAStA (conseil des étudiants de l’université). Il s’agit d’une pratique pro-zioniste bien répandue, utilisée pour attaquer le travail pro-Palestinien tout en camouflant le propre antisémitisme et racisme.

Cette attaque est non seulement en parfaite conformité avec la résolution réactionnaire anti-BDS du parlement Allemand, le Bundestag, elle assume aussi, sans réflexion et d’unemanière misérable, la logique impérialiste des “listes de terreur”. Le AStA Münster a ainsi décidé que le nom du groupe “Palästina Antikolonial” devrait figurer dans une liste des “groupes antisémites” pour interdire leurs activités dans l’université.

Cette attaque ne visepas uniquement le groupe “Palästina Antikolonial” mais tous les étudiants Palestiniens en Allemagne.Nous appelons toutes les voix libres, émancipatrices et antiracistes à nous rejoindre etsigner cette déclaration. Nous rejetons catégoriquement la fausse accusation d’antisémitisme, demandons les excuses immédiates du AStA pour son erreur et prévenonsde tolérer la moindre répression anti-Palestinienne dans les universités Allemandes.

From the left: Samidoun Deutschland (Germany), Palästina Antikolonial (Germany), Zusammen kämpfen Magdeburg (Germany), Volksrat der Suryoye in Europa (Germany), Free Palestine Movement FFM (Germany), Studis gegen rechte hetze (Germany), Antifa Jugend Augsburg (Germany), Internationale Jugendgruppe Siegen (Germany), Das Palästina Portal (Germany), Institut für Palästinakunde e.V. (Germany), Palästina spricht NRW (Germany), Rote Jugend Schwaben(Germany), Duisburger Netzwerk gegen Rechts (Germany), Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (international), Palestinian Youth Movement (US),  Al-Awda – the Palestine Right to Return Coalition (US), Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine (US), Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization (Spain), US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (US), Collectif Palestine Vaincra (France), International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Northern California, Canada Palestine Association (Canada),  Students Against Israeli Apartheid – University of Toronto (Canada), Palestine Solidarity Collective at York University (US), National Students for Justice in Palestine (US) – National SJP (US), Internationalt Forum – Middle East Group (Denmark),  Dar al Janub – Verein für antirassistische und friedenspolitische Initiative (Austria), McGill Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (Canada), University of Waterloo Students for Palestinian Rights (Canada), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – University of British Columbia (Canada), Laurier Palestinian Students Association (Canada), Yeni Demokratik Gençlik YDG (Germany), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – SPHR Queen’s University (Canada), Atik – Confederation of workers from Turkey in Europe (European), Revolutionaire Eenheid (Netherlands), Palästina Spricht (Germany), Netzwerk Freiheit für alle politischen Gefangenen (Germany), Queerproletariatet (Sweden)

https://samidoun.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Joint-Statement-final-12-Jan.pdf

 

 

Free Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat, Palestinian prisoner in British jails #FreeIssam

#FreeIssam Twitterstorm and Social Media Action for Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat, Palestinian political prisoner in British jails

Tuesday, 5 January 2021

10 am Pacific – 1 pm Eastern – 6 pm British time – 7 pm central Europe – 8 pm Palestine

  • Use these sample tweets for your posts: bit.ly/issamtweets
  • Use the hashtag #FreeIssam for all of your posts during the action! 

On 5 January, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is joining with Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization, Palestine Online, Palestine Defense Forces, V Palestine and Palestine SunBird for a social media action to #FreeIssam – Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat, Palestinian political prisoner in British jails.

Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat is a Palestinian medical doctor who has lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, since 2010. Today, Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat is a political prisoner, held in high-security Maghaberry Prison in the north of Ireland. He was targeted by an MI5 infiltrator to attend a bugged meeting with members of Saoradh, an Irish republican socialist political party that advocates for an end to British colonialism and a united Ireland. He was detained on 22 August at Heathrow Airport on the same day that nine members of Saoradh were also arrested by British forces.

Dr. Hijjawi Bassalat has faced increasingly worse health conditions inside Maghaberry Prison. Issam suffers from serious health conditions and is not receiving the treatment he needs; instead, he has suffered from multiple delays that amount to a form of torture, forcing him to suffer in unnecessary pain as his condition worsens. Despite this situation, Issam has been repeatedly refused bail. Most recently, his bail application was once again refused on 22 December, despite overwhelming evidence of both his severe health situation and the effects of imprisonment upon his medical decline.

He faces another court hearing on 6 January, as he remains wrongfully imprisoned. Join us in a social media action on Tuesday, 5 January to support this Palestinian doctor who has given so much to his community in Edinburgh as well as the broader Palestinian community. Today, he is facing worsening pain and the atrophy of his leg on a daily basis, while the presumption of innocence is being cast aside for political gamesmanship. Join the call to #FreeIssam and urge the immediate release of Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat and the provision of the medical care he so desperately needs. 

  • Use these sample tweets for your posts: bit.ly/issamtweets
  • Use the hashtag #FreeIssam for all of your posts during the action! 

 

Who is Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat?

Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat is a Palestinian medical doctor who has lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, since 2010. Dr. Hijjawi Bassalat, 62, came to the UK in 1995 to work as a doctor, and he is a well-known, respected member of the Palestinian community in Scotland and the father of four. He previously served as chair of the Association of Palestinian Communities in Scotland (today, the Scottish Palestinian Society) and has been active throughout Europe in advocating for Palestinian rights to return, freedom and justice, speaking frequently at meetings, conferences and events.

Today, Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat is a political prisoner, held in high-security Maghaberry Prison in the north of Ireland. He was targeted by an MI5 infiltrator to attend a bugged meeting with members of Saoradh, an Irish republican socialist political party that advocates for an end to British colonialism and a united Ireland. He was detained on 22 August at Heathrow Airport on the same day that nine members of Saoradh were also arrested by British forces in what was labeled “Operation Arbacia.”

Unjust Bail Refusal amid Worsening Health

Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat has faced increasingly worse health conditions inside Maghaberry Prison. Issam suffers from serious health conditions and is not receiving the treatment he needs; instead, he has suffered from multiple delays that amount to a form of torture, forcing him to suffer in unnecessary pain as his condition worsens. He has experienced back pain and a spinal condition prior to his arrest when he suffered a slipped disc in July. The conditions of his imprisonment have exacerbated his injuries, especially due to the medical neglect of the prison administration.

Despite this situation, Issam has been repeatedly refused bail. Most recently, his bail application was once again refused on 22 December, despite overwhelming evidence of both his severe health situation and the effects of imprisonment upon his medical decline. As noted by Issam’s barrister, Brenda Campbell, QC, “Within the prison system they have really reached the end of the road in terms of trying to make him more comfortable. He requires surgery, he is experiencing muscle wastage as a result of what he is very much concerned about is nerve damage that may be permanent.”

Declining Health and Medical Neglect

He was taken by the prison administration for an MRI on 15 September before being placed in isolation in a run-down location called Foyle House for 14 days. While this was explained as a COVID-19 preventative measure, this means that he was in isolation for four weeks with only a break of a few days in conditions that did not allow him to walk or exercise, which at that time still provided some relief for his condition. His situation was so severe that he launched a hunger strike to get out of isolation that was supported by 50 Irish republican prisoners.

Now, he has been in severe pain for weeks despite taking painkillers and needs crutches to walk, and it is his belief – as a medical doctor – that he will need surgery.

Issam has gone so far as to offer to pay for private surgery and is in touch with a neurosurgeon; however, the prison administration has failed to turn over his medical records, further prolonging his agony. As noted by the Scottish Campaign Against Criminalizing Communities, this failure to provide treatment constitutes a potential breach of the prohibition on torture, inhuman or degrading treatment under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

MI5 Infiltration and Dubious Charges

The arrests sprang from the decades-long infiltration of Irish republican movements by MI5 agent Dennis McFadden, detailed in a Channel 4 News report (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxszWn367pY). Issam was entrapped into a meeting with McFadden on false pretenses after he was told by British officials that he had to pick up his daughter’s passport renewal in Belfast instead of Glasgow. There, he was invited to what was presented to him as a Saoradh meeting to discuss international solidarity and the Palestinian cause; he had previously spoken to a Saoradh Ard Fheis (annual meeting) about Palestine, an open, public event.

He is charged with “preparatory acts of terrorism” under the 2006 Terrorism Act, based on his attendance at this meeting engineered by MI5. Issam’s solicitor, Gavin Booth, has seen the transcript of the meeting Issam was compelled to attend, noting that “Everything that’s contained within the transcripts and the recordings is about Palestine, is about peaceful and democratic change. There’s nothing in the transcripts from Dr Bassalat that would support violence in any way.” Despite these facts and the presumption of innocence that is supposed to apply, he has been denied bail on two occasions and is being held on remand.

Targeting Issam’s Bank Account and Medical License

This is not the only form of mistreatment Issam has suffered. His bank account was frozen, denying him access to funds and creating even more inconvenience and trauma for his family — again, all while he ostensibly retains the presumption of innocence. Issam’s licence to practise medicine was suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) on 26 October 2020 after the charges filed against him, despite the fact that he has been convicted of nothing and that the charges in no way relate to his fitness to practise medicine or his treatment of his patients.

Issam is being targeted as a Palestinian in an attempt to justify the MI5 infiltration of public political parties and to smear both the Palestinian and Irish struggles through entrapment and misrepresentation. As a result, this Palestinian doctor who has given so much to his community in Edinburgh as well as the broader Palestinian community is facing worsening pain and the atrophy of his leg on a daily basis, while the presumption of innocence is being cast aside for political gamesmanship. We urge the immediate release of Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat and the provision of the medical care he so desperately needs. 

Video: Channel 4 Report on MI5 Entrapment and Infiltration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxszWn367pY (9 October 2020)

Video Webinar on Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat and the Saoradh 9 

https://youtu.be/32gV6HFLx2w (22 September 2020)

Resources on the Case of Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat

Media Coverage

Photos of Issam

Join the Twitterstorm Tuesday, 5 January to #FreeIssam Hijjawi Bassalat!

#FreeIssam Twitterstorm and Social Media Action for Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat, Palestinian political prisoner in British jails

Tuesday, 5 January 2021

10 am Pacific – 1 pm Eastern – 6 pm British time – 7 pm central Europe – 8 pm Palestine

  • Use these sample tweets for your posts: bit.ly/issamtweets
  • Use the hashtag #FreeIssam for all of your posts during the action! 

On 5 January, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is joining with Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization, Palestine Online, Palestine Defense Forces, V Palestine and Palestine SunBird for a social media action to #FreeIssam – Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat, Palestinian political prisoner in British jails.

Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat is a Palestinian doctor (a general practitioner or GP) who has lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, since 2010. Today, Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat is a political prisoner, held in high-security Maghaberry Prison in the north of Ireland. He was targeted by an MI5 infiltrator to attend a bugged meeting with members of Saoradh, an Irish republican socialist political party that advocates for an end to British colonialism and a united Ireland. He was detained on 22 August at Heathrow Airport on the same day that nine members of Saoradh were also arrested by British forces.

Dr. Hijjawi Bassalat has faced increasingly worse health conditions inside Maghaberry Prison. Issam suffers from serious health conditions and is not receiving the treatment he needs; instead, he has suffered from multiple delays that amount to a form of torture, forcing him to suffer in unnecessary pain as his condition worsens. Despite this situation, Issam has been repeatedly refused bail. Most recently, his bail application was once again refused on 22 December, despite overwhelming evidence of both his severe health situation and the effects of imprisonment upon his medical decline.

He faces another court hearing on 6 January, as he remains wrongfully imprisoned. Join us in a social media action on Tuesday, 5 January to support this Palestinian doctor who has given so much to his community in Edinburgh as well as the broader Palestinian community. Today, he is facing worsening pain and the atrophy of his leg on a daily basis, while the presumption of innocence is being cast aside for political gamesmanship. Join the call to #FreeIssam and urge the immediate release of Dr. Issam Hijjawi Bassalat and the provision of the medical care he so desperately needs. 

  • Use these sample tweets for your posts: bit.ly/issamtweets
  • Use the hashtag #FreeIssam for all of your posts during the action! 

Online Event: Military Education in Egypt

Thursday, 7 January
9 am Pacific – 12 pm Eastern – 6 pm Berlin/central Europe – 7 pm Palestine
Register to join on Zoom: https://bit.ly/2LR1yxS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/930532500811999/

Online Zoom Event: Military Education in Egypt
__________________________________

*ENGLISH*
(German and Arabic below)

In the context of the “Internationalist Student Forum” Studis gegen rechte Hetze and Samidoun Deutschland are excited to invite you all to our next online event titled “Military Education in Egypt”.
Here we wish to learn from our comrade and speaker about the interconnections of the Egyptian military with state apparatus and particularly the education system in the broader context of international militarization. Since Egypt is one of the biggest recipients of arms exports from Germany, it is all the more pressing to deal with this subject matter in our current times.

**When:
Date: 7th of January 2021
Time: 6pm (Berlin Time) (7pm Cairo and Jerusalem Time)
Please click on the following link to register: https://bit.ly/2LR1yxS
The event will be in English. Arabic Translation will be provided. In the Discussion questions can be asked in English, Arabic or German.

**About the Internationalist Student Forum:
The Internationalist Student Forum wishes to center student voices that question global capitalism, (neo)colonialism, imperialism and hegemonic racist structures globally in order to offer a counter-narrative of student voices from below. By learning from each other we wish to strengthen international solidarity and unite our struggles.

________________________

*GERMAN*
Im Rahmen des „Internationalist Studierenden Forum“ freut sich Studis gegen rechte Hetze und Samidoun Deutschland Euch alle zur nächsten Online-Veranstaltung mit dem Titel „Military Education in Egypt“ einzuladen.

Hier möchten wir von unserem Genossen und Referenten über den Zusammenhang des ägyptischen Militärs mit dem Staatsapparat und insbesondere mit dem Bildungssystem im breiteren Kontext der internationalen Militarisierung erfahren. Ägypten ist eines der größten Empfänger von deutschen Waffenexporten, deswegen ist es umso wichtiger, dass eine Auseinandersetzung mit diesem Thema stattfindet.

**Wann:
Datum: 7. Januar 2021
Uhrzeit: 18 Uhr (Berlin Zeit) (19 Uhr Kairo und Jerusalem Zeit)
Bitte klicken Sie auf den folgenden Link, um sich zu registrieren: https://bit.ly/2LR1yxS
Die Veranstaltung wird auf Englisch sein (Arabisch-Übersetzung wird vorhanden sein). In der Diskussion können jedoch Fragen auf Englisch, Deutsch oder Arabisch gestellt werden.

**Über das Internationalistische Studierenden Forum:
Das Internationalistische Studierenden Forum möchte Studierendenstimmen zusammenbringen, die den globalen Kapitalismus, (Neo-) Kolonialismus, Imperialismus und hegemoniale rassistische Strukturen in Frage stellen, um einen Gegendiskurs von Studierendenstimmen von unten aufzubauen. Indem wir voneinander lernen, wollen wir die internationale Solidarität und unsere Kämpfe stärken und zusammendenken.

___________________

*ARABIC*

استمراراً في أنشطة “المنتدى الأممي للطلبة”، يسرّ كل من “طلبة ضد التحريض اليميني” و”صامدون- ألمانيا” دعوتكم جميعاً لحضور فعاليتنا الإلكترونية الثانية تحت عنوان “التعليم العسكري في مصر”.

في هذه الندوة يسعى صديقنا والمتحدث في هذا اللقاء للحديث عن أوجه الترابط بين الجيش المصري وجهاز الدولة مع نظام التعليم. خصوصاً في السياق الأوسع للعسكرة الدولية. مصر تعتبر واحدة من أكثر الدول التي تستورد الأسلحة من ألمانيا، وبالتالي فإنه من المهم جدا الخوض في تفاصيل هذه الظاهرة وتحليل انعكاساتها وآثارها في عصرنا الحالي.

التاريخ: السابع من كانون الثاني/ يناير ٢٠٢١
الوقت: السادسة مساءً بتوقيت برلين, السابعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة و القدس
للتسجيل يرجى الضغط على الرابط التالي:
https://bit.ly/2LR1yxS
ستعقد الندوة باللغة الإنجليزية مع توفر ترجمة للغة العربية، خلال النقاش يمكن طرح الأسئلة باللغة العربية.

عن المنتدى الأممي للطلبة:
يهدف المنتدى إلى تعزيز صوت الطلبة في مواجهة الرأسمالية العالمية والاستعمار(الجديد) والإمبريالية والهياكل العنصرية التي تسعى لتفكيك قيم العمل الطلابي بشقيه النقابي والسياسي. على هذا الأساس يدعم المنتدى الخطاب الثوري المضاد الذي يعمل على تفكيك هذه الهيمنة ودعم الفكر المناهض لهذه البنية. يؤمن المنتدى الأممي للطلبة بأهمية تعزيز التضامن الدولي وتوحيد النضال من خلال مشاركة الخبرات وبناء شراكات على أسس المواجهة الاستراتيجية للتيارات الإمبريالية والأفكار الاستعمارية.

Palestinian resistance stands united with joint military exercises in Gaza

The following report is largely translated from the original French at Collectif Palestine Vaincra: https://palestinevaincra.com/2020/12/la-resistance-palestinienne-se-presente-unie-et-effectue-une-demonstration-de-force-a-gaza/

Also, watch the following report from Press TV, featuring Palestinian writer and organizer Khaled Barakat and Palestinian political activist from Gaza Motee Abu Musabeh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-aV9-r5hz4

On Tuesday, 29 December, the Joint Chamber of the Palestinian resistance factions organized military drills in the Gaza Strip, on land, sea, and air. The joint military drills brought together 12 Palestinian armed branches of organizations, including the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, as well as the National Resistance Brigades of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades – Al-Amoudi Brigade, Asifah Amy, Martyr Ayman Jouda Brigades, Martyr Abdel Qader al-Husseini Brigades, Mujahideen Brigades, Ansar Brigades and the Martyr Jihad Jibril Brigades.

In a statement issued the day prior to the military drills, the Palestinian organizations affirmed that this effort came “as part of the strengthening of cooperation and joint action between the resistance factions, embodying their efforts to increase their combat readiness in a permanent and continuous way.”

At a press conference, a representative of the Palestinian military resistance organizations spoke, appearing with his face covered with a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh and with a Palestinian flag patch on his arm, without the logo or flag of any of the factions. In his address, he emphasized Palestinian national unity in the resistance: “This effort clearly expresses the joint decision and unity between the wings of the resistance factions in all of their aspects…It is a simulation of what could happen in any real confrontation with the occupation, and a representative example of the capacity of the resistance to confront and respond to such events.” He added that “long years of struggle against the Israeli occupation have developed a unique experience of resistance, resting on solid foundations.”

Regardless of the scale of the military drills, the resistance spokesperson underlined that the program was defensive in nature, with its objective “to confirm the readiness of the resistance to defend our people in all cases and in all circumstances.” Hundreds of fighters from all organizations took part in the drills, during which several types of missiles were tested. Rockets were fired toward the sea and underwater exercises took place. In anticipation of the drills, fishers were prohibited from accessing the sea during the maneuvers, and the main coastal road was closed. The Israeli occupation army was on maximum alert during the exercises.

This show of force by the Palestinian resistance is also a message to the reactionary Arab regimes engaged in normalization with the Israeli occupation. Despite an inhuman siege on Gaza, all of the Palestinian resistance organizations in Gaza affirmed their united stance, emphasizing that the Palestinian people must rely on their own capacities for self-defense in order to confront colonialism, racism and apartheid.

Help us build toward a new year of struggle for Palestinian liberation

2020 has been a year of great challenges for the Palestinian movement and all movements for justice and liberation. Despite those challenges, the campaign for justice and freedom for Palestine and the Palestinian prisoners is expanding, building and mobilizing. 

As Palestinians – especially Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, already denied healthcare and subjected to medical neglect – face the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic under siege, occupation and colonization, organizers in Palestine and internationally have aimed to develop innovative mechanisms to mobilize, confront imperialism and Zionism and stand with the Palestinian liberation struggle. Over 4,500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails are on the front lines of it. 

Your support is critical for this international, Arab and Palestinian movement to continue to grow through 2021 and beyond – toward liberation and return. 

For Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, despite its challenges, this has been a year of growth, building and struggle to escalate the movement to support Palestinian prisoners and the liberation of Palestine. During 2020, we have organized dozens of virtual and in-person actions, launched four new chapters around the world, mobilized in defense of Palestinian prisoners and joined with comrades in the struggle to fight imperialism, achieve racial justice, Black liberation and indigenous sovereignty.

We know that 2021 can be an even stronger, bigger year of struggle for Palestine. Your support, involvement and engagement have made 2020 a time of rising mobilization to support Palestinian prisoners, to build solidarity in our communities and to stand with Palestinians’ right to resist, right to return and right to liberate Palestine from the river to the sea. We are working to build the movement to boycott Israel and confront complicit corporations profiteering from colonization. We stand with the Palestinian prisoners and the entire Palestinian people’s struggle for liberation – and with all of those around the world confronting imperialism, capitalism, Zionism and reactionary repression. 

Thank you for all of those who have supported Samidoun in 2020. This includes your financial support, but also your organizing, campaigning and mobilization for Palestine. In order to build our collective movement for justice, we must be bigger and broader, and work together even more closely, as we build collective power for liberation in Palestine and at a global level. 

As we prepare for our next year of struggle, we ask for your support once again. As an international network that relies on grassroots funding, without staff or institutional support, we need the solidarity of the people, organizations and movements dedicated to our collective vision of justice and liberation for our work to continue to grow. 

Thanks to the fiscal sponsorship of the Alliance for Global Justice, your contribution to Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is now tax-deductible for those who pay U.S. taxes. People from around the world can donate safely and securely to support our efforts to organize events and demonstrations, bring the stories and experiences of Palestinian prisoners to the world, publish advocacy materials and keep our website running. We can only do this with your support, and every donation of any size is essential to building together for the future. 

As we prepare to march forward into 2021, we ask you to consider donating to Samidoun today and supporting us as we grow bigger, stronger, broader and bolder in advancing the voices and demands of the Palestinian prisoners and building the movement for Palestine. 

Click here to support Samidoun’s work as we mark a year of struggle and look forward to a new year of growth and liberation. 

Alternately, checks and money orders may be written and mailed to:
AFGJ/Samidoun
225 E. 26th St., Ste. 1
Tucson, A.Z. 85713-2925
U.S.A.

Below is a brief overview of just some of our work during 2020: 

Growing and Building the Movement for Palestinian Prisoners

In 2020, at least four new Samidoun chapters were officially launched – Samidoun Stockholm, Samidoun Deutschland, Samidoun España and Samidoun Brasil. These join our existing chapters and organizers in Palestine, the United States, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Belgium, Sweden and elsewhere to organize events and actions and mobilize communities to defend Palestinian prisoners and support the Palestinian liberation struggle. 

We look forward to launching even more chapters, membership initiatives and campaigns in 2021, and we invite you to join us! 

Days of Rage: Confronting Annexation and the “Deal of the Century”

Samidoun Network in occupied Palestine issued a call for action for 1 July 2020, which brought together organizations and activists around the world. Dozens of organizations endorsed the call and organized events in cities globally under the slogan, “No to Annexation, No to Zionism!” Thousands of people took to the streets, in marches, car caravans, distanced protest actions and even online and social media protests, to stand together in the Days of Rage, including organizations like the Palestinian Youth Movement, Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition, NY4Palestine and National Students for Justice in Palestine. From Ramallah to New York, from Detroit to San Diego, from Toulouse to Madrid, Palestinian community and youth organizations, solidarity movements and internationalists came together to march against the threat of annexation and the ongoing colonization of Palestine. 

Marching Forward: Days of Resistance for Palestine

Building on the tremendous momentum produced by the Days of Rage, the Days of Resistance for Palestine between 7-9 August 2020 brought together over 100 organizations and thousands of people around the world to stand together with the Palestinian people to confront imperialism, normalization and Zionism. Despite attacks from high-level Israeli officials that aimed to suppress these actions, noting that they had “warned Western governments” about the protests, over 100 organizations joined Samidoun’s call for the Days of Resistance, with an array of diverse actions taking place around the world. These events included protests, car caravans, art and cultural interventions and public educational events, all in support of the Palestinian people and their right to resist.

Raising Our Voices: Building Virtually, Connecting Organizers

Throughout 2020, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network organized and participated in dozens of webinars and virtual events and actions for Palestine. These events, conducted in English, Arabic, French, German and Spanish, built transnational connections among Palestinian communities working for a revolutionary alternative for the Palestinian future, provided political education and development for Samidoun members and the movement more broadly, connected with justice movements from around the world and escalated our collective conversations in support of Palestinian liberation. These online events have come in addition to our social media campaigns, conducted in alliance with dozens of other organizations, that have reached millions of people on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media channels. 

Samidoun in Occupied Palestine: Organizing for Liberation

In 2020, Samidoun in occupied Palestine organized a number of events and actions, including protests, press conferences and events, mobilizing Palestinian youth and students, former prisoners, political organizations and activists to march against annexation, resist normalization and organize in defense of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. Samidoun in occupied Palestine issued the call for the Day of Rage on 1 July that echoed around the world, while playing a leading role in organizing dozens of online workshops in Arabic that brought together Palestinian communities in exile and diaspora with those inside Palestine to discuss a revolutionary vision for the future of the Palestinian movement. 

Fighting Repression: Standing Up for Palestine

In 2020, Samidoun was engaged in struggles against attempts to suppress the movement for Palestine — inside occupied Palestine and around the world. We have ourselves been targeted by Israel’s so-called “Ministry of Strategic Affairs” for a series of attacks – precisely because of our work to highlight the ongoing struggles of Palestinian political prisoners against torture, abuse and unjust detention. We also recognize that Zionist repression is not separate from the attempts to suppress movements for justice in Palestine – and other movements for justice and liberation – internationally. We have built the campaign in solidarity with Khaled Barakat, expelled from Germany for his advocacy for Palestine, and worked with many other groups in Germany to challenge anti-Palestinian repression and fight back against the criminalization of the boycott movement. We have highlighted the case of Issam Hijjawi Bassalat and the Saoradh 9, arrested by the British state in an attempt to target both Palestinian and Irish movements. Most recently, the Collectif Palestine Vaincra – a member organization of the Samidoun Network – has faced threats and attacks from far-right Zionist forces. In 2021, we will continue our efforts to fight back against repression and expand our campaigns for justice. 

Hungry for Justice: Supporting Palestinian Prisoners’ Hunger Strikes and Actions

There are over 4,500 Palestinian political prisoners on the front lines of struggle, confronting threats to their lives and health – not to mention brutal torture under interrogation – on a daily basis. In January 2020, we started the year campaigning for Ahmad Zahran, jailed without charge or trial under administrative detention, who conducted a hunger strike for 113 days.  We mobilized events, actions and social media campaigns in support of Maher al-Akhras, whose victory after 103 days of hunger strike inspired artists, organizers, lawyers and advocates for justice around the world to take a stand, protest and launch solidarity hunger strikes. 

Break the Siege on Gaza! International Actions for the March of Return

Samidoun joined with the Higher National Commission of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege in Gaza, Palestine to launch a call for action on the second anniversary of the Great Return March in Gaza in March 2020. While the COVID-19 pandemic forced the transformation of this week of action into a virtual campaign, dozens of organizations, political parties and solidarity groups around the world endorsed the action and joined the “Cyber March of Return,” reaching millions of people on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and keeping the siege on Gaza and the struggle for the right to return of all Palestinian refugees at the forefront of the struggle. Samidoun continued organizing to break the siege on Gaza, organizing a Madrid protest to support Palestinian fishers in November.

Week of Palestinian Struggle Commemorates the Nakba, Continuing Resistance

In May 2020, dozens of organizations responded to Samidoun’s call for the Week of Palestinian Struggle, organizing actions, protests, online events, boycott campaigns and mobilizations to commemorate the Nakba and the ongoing struggle for Palestinian liberation. “For decades, the Palestinian people’s  movement has commemorated 15 May and the week that follows as a week of solidarity, resistance and struggle, affirming a revolution that will continue until victory. This week marks the Palestinian, Arab and international struggle for justice and liberation, a struggle that has continued for 72 years and continues every day. As the Nakba continues, the resistance continues!” As part of the week, Samidoun joined with 100 organizations in a statement initiated by Palestinian youth and students, including Samidoun in occupied Palestine and in the diaspora, demanding an end to the path of Madrid and Oslo and declaring that “the Palestinian leadership must go!”

Prisoners’ Action Weeks: Organizing for Ahmad Sa’adat, Khitam Saafin, Georges Abdallah and all prisoners’ liberation

Of course, 2020 was also a year of building and expanding our core work: solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. In January 2020, we joined with the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat for the Weeks of Action to Free Ahmad Sa’adat – an initiative we’re spearheading again in 2021. We organized online and in-person protests for student and youth prisoners, including Tareq Matar, Mays Abu Ghosh and Samah Jaradat, throughout the year, and in April 2020, we commemorated Palestinian Prisoners’ Day with a week of action, joining with a number of organizations for the #WeAreWithYou online campaign and producing a series of educational resources, graphics and posters throughout the week. 

The annual march in Lannemezan to free Georges Ibrahim Abdallah on 24 October brought over 600 people – the largest crowd yet – to demand freedom for the Lebanese Communist jailed in France for 36 years for his involvement in the Palestinian liberation struggle. And in November 2020, we joined with a group of organizations, including the US Palestinian Community Network, the National Lawyers Guild, Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization, the Palestinian Youth Movement and Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine, to mobilize two days of action to free Khitam Saafin, the imprisoned Palestinian women’s leader and president of the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees.

Global Solidarity for Justice and Liberation

At the heart of Samidoun’s work remains an anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist vision of justice and liberation. This means that we cannot struggle for justice for Palestine alone, but that it is critical to support the Black Liberation movement, Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination movements like the work of the Red Nation, and anti-imperialist movements around the world and within imperialist countries. We organize to free political prisoners in the U.S., UK, Canada, France and elsewhere, including the prisoners of the Black Liberation Movement as well as Palestinian prisoners like the Holy Land Five and Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, and work in solidarity with prisoners’ struggles from Morocco to Turkey to the Philippines. This year, our work included support for Black Liberation movements, joining protests and actions, highlighting the history of Black-Palestinian collective struggle and participating in building and rebuilding those deep links of resistance and revolution. 

Together, we look forward to marching together into 2021, to build a stronger, deeper, more vibrant movement for the freedom of all Palestinian prisoners and for the liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea.  

Click here to support Samidoun’s work as we continue that march forward to 2021. 

1...150151152...694Page 151 of 694

Follow us on Instagram @samidounnetwork

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Contact us: samidoun@samidoun.net
Facebook Instagram Mail RSS Telegram Twitter Youtube
Unless otherwise stated, all content by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. If the image(s) bear our credit, this license also applies to them.