Galician People’s Union calls for freedom for hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner Bilal Kayed

23 July 2016

The Galician People’s Union (Union do Povo Galego) has released a statement in support of striking Palestinian prisoner Bilal Kayed, today on his 39th day of hunger strike. Kayed has been consuming only water, refusing vitamins, salt supplements, and medical examinations; after a serious health deterioration, he is shackled to his hospital bed in Barzilai Hospital, under intense surveillance. Dozens of Kayed’s fellow Palestinian prisoners are on hunger strike in solidarity with his struggle for release. After a 14.5 year sentence in Israeli prisons, he was scheduled for release on 13 June 2016. Instead of being released, he was ordered to six months in indefinitely-renewable administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial on the basis of secret evidence. He launched his hunger strike on 15 June to demand his freedom. Over 150 Palestinian and international organizations have demanded Kayed’s release, and people around the world are mobilizing between 20 and 30 July for Kayed’s freedom, including on 25 July, the World Student Day of Solidarity with Bilal Kayed and Palestinian Prisoners.

The statement is below:

WE DEMAND THE LIBERATION OF THE PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST, BILAL KAYED

The member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Bilal Kayed, was due for release on 13 June after over 14 years spent in Israeli jails.

Following the decision by Israel to hold him for a further 6 months, Bilal Kayed went on hungers strike and is currently tied to a hospital bed and under great pressure to give up his strike. His life is in serious danger having lost 25 Kg since his protest began, with serious consequences for his health.

The Galician People’s Union (UPG) condemns the callous treatment of Bilal Kayed by the Israeli government and demands his immediate release.

We also denounce the fact that 750 Palestinians are currently imprisoned under “administrative detention” whereby anyone can be arrested and held without charges for six-month periods which can be extended indefinitely.

We demand the immediate release of Bilal Kayed and all political prisoners, the repeal of “administrative detention” and the end to the occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel.

Santiago de Compostela, 18 July 2016

Secretariat for International Relations

Galician People’s Union (UPG)

Español

EXIGIMOS LA LIBERACIÓN DEL ACTIVISTA PALESTINO BILAL KAYED

El militante del Frente Popular de Liberación de Palestina Bilal Kayed debía haber sido liberado el pasado 13 de Junio tras pasar más de 14 años en las cárceles israelíes.

Delante de la decisión de Israel de mantenerlo en la cárcel durante seis meses más Bilal Kayed inició una huelga de hambre, y en este momento está hospitalizado y atado a la cama sufriendo una gran presión para que abandone la huelga de hambre. Su vida corre serio peligro, pues desde que inició la huelga de hambre ha perdido 25 kilos y se ha deteriorado seriamente su salud.

La UPG quiere denunciar la actuación inhumana del gobierno israelí con Bilal Kayed y exige su inmediata puesta en libertad.

Además debemos denunciar la existencia en este momento de 750 palestinos y palestinas que están en prisión al aplicarse la figura de la “detención administrativa”, figura que permite detener a personas sin acusación ninguna por periodos de seis meses que pueden ser prorrogables de modo indefinido.

Exigimos la inmediata liberación de Bilal Kayed y de todos los presos y presas políticos, la eliminación de la figura de la “detención administrativa” y el fin de la ocupación por parte de Israel de los territorios palestinos.

Santiago de Compostela; 18 de Julio de 2016

Secretaría de Relaciones Internacionales

Unión del Pueblo Gallego

Português

EXIGIMOS A LIBERTAÇÃO DO ACTIVISTA PALESTINIANO BILAL KAYED

O militante da Frente Popular de Libertação de Palestina Bilal Kayed devia ter sido liberado o passado 13 de Junho depois de passar mais de 14 anos nos cárceres israelenses.

Diante da decisão de Israel de manter no cárcere durante mais seis meses Bilal Kayed iniciou uma greve de fome e neste momento está hospitalizado e atado à cama sofrendo uma grande pressão para que abandone a greve de fome. A sua vida corre sério perigo, pois desde que iniciou a greve de fome tem perdido 25 quilos e tem-se deteriorado seriamente a sua saúde.

A UPG quer denunciar a actuação inhumana do governo israelense com Bilal Kayed e exige a sua imediata posta em liberdade.

Ademais devemos denunciar a existência neste momento de 750 palestinianos e palestinianas que estão em prisão ao se aplicar a figura da “detenção administrativa”, figura que permite deter a pessoas sem acusação nenhuma por períodos de seis meses que podem ser prorrogábeis de modo indefinido.

Exigimos a imediata libertação de Bilal Kayed e de todos os presos e presas políticos, a eliminação da figura da “detenção administrativa” e o fim da ocupação por parte de Israel dos territórios palestinianos.

Santiago de Compostela; 18 de Julho de 2016

Secretaria de Relações Internacionais

União do Povo Galego

25 July, Cairo: World Student Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners

22 July 2016

Monday, 25 July
4:00 pm
Karama Party office
7 Ali Ismail street
Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/118077861964405/

As part of the call for a World Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners in the Zionist occupation jails, students of the Karama party will gather in Dokki at 4:00 pm, in support of the hunger striking prisoners in Israeli jails.

28 July, Athens: Protest in Solidarity with Bilal Kayed and Palestinian Prisoners

22 July 2016

Thursday, 28 July
7:30 PM
Israeli Embassy
Marathonodromou 1 Filothei- Psichiko
Athens, Greece
More information: http://adedy.gr/parastasidiamartyriaspalaistinioikratoumenoi/

ADEDY [Civil Servants’ Confederation], in response to the international call for protests from the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, calls on civil society, all progressive political forces, movements and collectives of solidarity, unions, associations, workers, and youth to participate in the protest outside the Israeli embassy on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 7:30 pm, demanding the immediate release of the Palestinian hunger striker Bilal Kayed.

The Greek people will join the voice of the international solidarity movement by participating in the mobilizations on 20-30 July 2016, with a protest outside the Israeli Embassy. Also, in the coming days in Syntagma Square, we will share informational materials about Bilal Kayed and other political prisoners, as well as the unacceptable conditions of detention in the “Guantanamos” of occupied Palestine.

We demand the end of administrative detention, which allows the Israeli occupation forces to imprison Palestinians without charge or trial in military courts for periods of up to six months, indefinitely renewable.

Bilal Kayed, member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), was arrested on December 14, 2001 at age 20 because of his participation in one of the most “dangerous” Palestinian resistance forces for the Zionist state of Israel. He served 14.5 years in prison, a sentence that expired on June 13, 2016, yet he was ordered to administrative detention.

Since August 2015, he was isolated under inhumane conditions and transferred from prison to prison to break his ties with fellow prisoners and weaken the role of the prisoners’ movement.

On the following days in Syntagma Square, and next Thursday, July 28, 2016, stand in protest, solidarity, resistance, and dignity. Let the voice of our people be heard in occupied Palestine, and reach into the prisons to give hope!

You are not alone! The Greek people stand beside the proud, struggling, heroic Palestinian people!
Freedom for Bilal Kayed and all political prisoners!
Freedom for Palestine

Executive Committee of ADEDY

ΔΕΛΤΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ

ΑΛΛΗΛΕΓΓΥΗ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΡΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΔΙΑΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑΣ

ΓΙΑ ΤΟΥΣ ΠΑΛΑΙΣΤΙΝΙΟΥΣ ΚΡΑΤΟΥΜΕΝΟΥΣ

Η Α.Δ.Ε.Δ.Υ. ανταποκρινόμενη στις διεθνείς κινητοποιήσεις που συντονίζει το Δίκτυο Αλληλεγγύης Παλαιστίνιων Κρατουμένων Samidoun, καλεί την κοινωνία των πολιτών, όλες τις προοδευτικές πολιτικές δυνάμεις, κινήματα και συλλογικότητες αλληλεγγύης, συνδικαλιστικούς φορείς, σωματεία, τους εργαζόμενους και τη νεολαία να συμμετέχουν στην παράσταση διαμαρτυρίας έξω από την ισραηλινή πρεσβεία (Μαραθωνοδρόμου 1, Φιλοθέη – Ψυχικό) την Πέμπτη, 28 Ιουλίου 2016, στις 7:30μμ, ζητώντας την άμεση απελευθέρωση του παλαιστίνιου απεργού πείνας, Bilal Kayed.

Ενώνουμε τη φωνή του ελληνικού λαού με τη συμμετοχή μας στις κινητοποιήσεις του Διεθνούς Κινήματος Αλληλεγγύης, από 20-30 Ιουλίου 2016, με την παράσταση διαμαρτυρίας έξω από την ισραηλινή πρεσβεία. Επίσης, τις επόμενες ημέρες στην πλατεία Συντάγματος, θα μοιράζεται ενημερωτικό υλικό για τον Bilal Kayed αλλά και για άλλους πολιτικούς κρατούμενους, όπως και για τις απαράδεκτες συνθήκες κράτησης στα «Γκουαντανάμο» της κατεχόμενης Παλαιστίνης.

Ζητούμε τον τερματισμό της διοικητικής κράτησης, που επιτρέπει στις ισραηλινές δυνάμεις κατοχής, την παράταση φυλάκισης κρατουμένων, χωρίς απαγγελία κατηγοριών και την προσαγωγή τους σε δίκη σε στρατιωτικά δικαστήρια, για περιόδους έως και 6 μηνών, που μπορούν να ανανεωθούν επ’ αόριστον.

Ο Bilal Kayed, μέλος του Λαϊκού Μετώπου για την Απελευθέρωση της Παλαιστίνης (Λ.Μ.Α.Π) συλλαμβάνεται στις 14 Δεκεμβρίου 2001, σε ηλικία 19 ετών, λόγω της συμμετοχής του σε μία από τις πιο «επικίνδυνες» δυνάμεις της παλαιστινιακής αντίστασης για το σιωνιστικό κράτος του Ισραήλ και εκτίει ποινή φυλάκισης 14.5 ετών, που θα έπρεπε να είχε λήξει στις 13 Ιουνίου 2016.

Από τον Αύγουστο του 2015, βρισκόταν σε απόλυτη απομόνωση, κάτω από απάνθρωπες συνθήκες κράτησης, ενώ τον μετέφεραν σε διάφορες φυλακές για να αποκοπούν οι δεσμοί με τους συγκρατούμενούς του αλλά και για να αποδυναμωθεί ο ρόλος του στο κίνημα των φυλακισμένων.

Από τις επόμενες μέρες, τόσο στην πλατεία Συντάγματος όσο και την επόμενη Πέμπτη, 28 Ιουλίου 2016, στην παράσταση διαμαρτυρίας, αλληλεγγύης, αντίστασης και αξιοπρέπειας, ας ακουστεί η φωνή του λαού μας μέσα στα κατεχόμενα παλαιστινιακά εδάφη, να φτάσει μέσα στις φυλακές για να δώσει ελπίδα!

Δεν είστε μόνοι! Ο Ελληνικός λαός, στέκεται δίπλα στον υπερήφανο, αγωνιζόμενο, ηρωικό Παλαιστινιακό λαό!

Λευτεριά στον Bilal Kayed και σε όλους τους πολιτικούς κρατούμενους!

Λευτεριά στην Παλαιστίνη!

Από την Εκτελεστική Επιτροπή της Α.Δ.Ε.Δ.Υ.

23 July, Lysekil, Sweden: Meeting in Solidarity with Bilal Kayed and Palestinian Prisoners

22 July 2016

The Swedish Communist Party and the RKU (Communist Youth League) are holding a solidarity meeting on Saturday, 23 July in Lysekil in connection with the Communist summer camps, in solidarity with Bilal Kayed and all Palestinian prisoners.

They call on all progressive and anti-imperialist forces to unite behind the campaign’s main calls:

Freedom for Bilal Kayed and all Palestinian prisoners!
End the policy of administrative detention!

More information (Swedish): http://www.proletaren.se/ledare/frihet-bilal-kayled-och-de-palestinska-fangarna

26 July, Philadelphia: SJP Ona MOVE – Philly to Palestine Contingent at the DNC

21 July 2016

Tuesday, 26 July
4:00 pm
North Side of City Hall
Broad Street, Philadelphia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/976279129151950/

Come march with us at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia!

“SJP Ona MOVE” is a campaign spearheaded by Temple Students for Justice in Palestine in Philadelphia whose members aim to raise the political consciousness of the parallels between Palestinian and Black liberation. Specifically, SJP Ona MOVE seeks to liberate political prisoners, including Mumia Abu-Jamal and the MOVE 9, and Palestinian political prisoners languishing in Israeli prisons. Propelled by our understanding of the intercivilizational struggle and the global fight to liberate all oppressed people from the shackles of capitalist-imperialism, SJP Ona MOVE strives to kindle the flames of internationalism while fighting for Black and Palestinian liberation.

SJP Ona MOVE – Points of Unity:

Demand the release of all political prisoners
Eliminate racialized state violence
End youth incarceration

This contingent has been endorsed By:

Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Philly BDS
Temple Students for Justice in Palestine

23 July, London: Palestine Protest – Solidarity with Bilal Kayed and Palestinian Hunger Strikers

21 July 2016

Saturday, 23 July
1:00 pm
Marks and Spencer
458 Oxford St
London W1C 1 AP
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1126590834030789/

Oxford Street Protest for Palestine

Marks & Spencer flagship store, 458 Oxford St, London W1C 1AP
(Marble arch end of Oxford Street). Closest tubes: Marble Arch and Bond Street.

**We have updated this event as it coincides with the week of action in Solidarity with Bilal Kayed and Palestinian Hunger Strikers**

SOLIDARITY WITH BILAL KAYED AND PALESTINIAN HUNGER STRIKERS

SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINE

An open mic rally against the racist, apartheid state of Israel, and in solidairty with Palestinian political prisoners.

Bilal Kayed is now in his second month of hunger strike; on strike since 15 June, he is demanding his freedom from administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Kayed was ordered to six months’ administrative detention upon the expiration of his 14.5 year sentence in Israeli jails on 13 June 2016. A leader inside the prisons, he was one of the organizers of the 2012 collective Karameh hunger strike, in which thousands of Palestinian prisoners refused food for nearly one month against solitary confinement and denial of family visits.

This event is part of an international day of action on 25 July called by the Progressive Student Labor Front in Palestine. We join in this call to action and demand freedom for Bilal Kayed and his fellow Palestinian prisoners.

We will campaign outside Marks and Spencer’s flagship store because of the company’s historical links with the zionist movement, and its continuing economic ties with Israel.

Organized by Victory to the Intifada, South London Revolutionary Communist Group

Former long-term hunger striker Akram al-Fassisi released from administrative detention after 20 months

21 July 2016

Palestinian prisoner and long-term hunger striker Akram Al-Fassisi, 33, was released on 20 July after 20 months in administrative detention without charge or trial.

Al-Fassisi returned home to al-Khalil; he has been imprisoned since November 2014, on the basis of secret evidence and without charge or trial. He was re-arrested in 2014; in an earlier arrest, when he was also imprisoned without charge or trial under administrative detention, he won his freedom through a 50-day hunger strike.

He is married with four children. Al-Fassisi was one of nearly 750 Palestinians held without charge or trial under administrative detention, including Bilal Kayed, who was ordered to administrative detention after 14.5 years in Israeli prison instead of being released as scheduled on 13 June. Kayed has been on hunger strike for 37 days against his administrative detention, and has been joined by dozens of prisoners now on open hunger strike alongside him, and hundreds of prisoners involved in protest actions and partial strikes within the prison. Kayed is held in Barzilai hospital, where he is shackled and and foot to the hospital bed. He consumes only water and refuses salt, vitamins, or medical examinations, and is demanding his immediate release.

Palestinian student Donya Musleh sentenced to 10 months in Israeli prison for posting on Facebook

21 July 2016

Palestinian student activist Donya Musleh was sentenced to 10 months in Israeli prison and a fine of NIS 2,000 (approximately $500) on charges of “incitement” for posting on Facebook about the Israeli occupation and Palestinian resistance.

Musleh, 19, a Palestinian refugee from Dheisheh camp near Bethlehem, is a student at Palestine National University and an activist with the leftist student organization, the Progressive Student Labor Front. She was arrested in a raid on her home in the camp on 16 November 2015.

Musleh is one of hundreds of Palestinians arrested, charged, or ordered to administrative detention for posting their political opinions and views about their occupied homeland on social media. Just days ago, journalist Samah Dweik was sentenced to six months and one day in prison for posting on Facebook. Astrophysicist Imad Barghouthi is currently being charged with Facebook “incitement,” after winning an end to his administrative detention with the support of hundreds of international scientists. Poet Dareen Tatour is held in house arrest after three months in prison, for posting her poetry on Youtube.

The PSLF is currently calling for a World Student Day of Solidarity with Bilal Kayed and Palestinian Prisoners on 25 July. Bilal Kayed, 35, is on hunger strike for the 37th day in protest of his administrative detention without charge or trial, imposed upon him after 14.5 years of Israeli imprisonment.

The detention of two more Palestinian women, Banan Mahmoud Mafarjah, 21, a medical student at Al-Quds University in Abu Dis, arrested at an Israeli occupation “flying checkpoint” west of Ramallah on 16 July; and Samaher Abdul Qader Musalma, of Beit Awwa near al-Khalil, arrested on 18 July while visiting her husband Nabil in the Negev desert prison; were extended until Sunday, 24 July. There are approximately 61 Palestinian women currently held in Israeli jails.

Four Palestinian prisoners launch hunger strike against ICRC family visit cuts

21 July 2016

Four Palestinian prisoners have launched an open hunger strike against the International Committee of the Red Cross’s new policy of cutting family visits for imprisoned Palestinian men from twice monthly to once monthly, reported the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society.

According to the PPS, the four, originally held in the Israeli Hadarim prison, are entering their fourth day of hunger strike. Mahmoud Sarahna from Bethlehem, Ziad Zahran al-Bazar from Ramallah, Amin Kamil from Jenin, and Ahmed Barghouthi. Sarahna, al-Bazar and Kamil were all transferred to other prisons, while Barghouthi was transferred internally. In one week, on 28 July, the Palestinian prisoners’ movement will begin collective actions against the ICRC policy, which they underlined supports the Israeli policy of isolating Palestinian prisoners from the people and their families, and collectively punishing the families of Palestinian prisoners.

The strike comes days after prisoners in Megiddo prison refused to meet with ICRC representatives on 19 July, in protest of the cuts to family visits. This followed a similar boycott by prisoners in the Ramle prison clinic, and a self-organized family visit by prisoners’ families from Jerusalem.

The strike also comes as the Palestinian prisoners’ movement is deeply engaged in the battle for freedom of Bilal Kayed, on his 37th day of hunger strike. Kayed, shackled hand and foot to his hospital bed in Barzilai hospital, is demanding his release from administrative detention. He was ordered to imprisonment without charge or trial on 13 June, upon the expiration of his 14.5-year sentence in Israeli prisons. Kayed’s case is seen as threatening a dangerous precedent of indefinite imprisonment of Palestinian prisoners after the completion of their sentences. Dozens of fellow Palestinian prisoners have joined Kayed on open hunger strike, while the Palestinian prisoners movement has pledged full support for Kayed’s battle for freedom. Many additional prisoners will be joining the collective hunger strike in the coming days.

Two brothers, Mohammed and Mahmoud al-Balboul, are on hunger strike for 17 days against their own administrative detention without charge or trial; while three more Palestinian prisoners held in administrative detention in Ofer prison are also on strike for freedom since 17 July: Ayad Herama, Muhannad Mutahna, and Malek al-Qadi.

Samidoun has written to the ICRCand protested in New York City and elsewhere against the visit cuts.

Take Action! Sign and share the change.org petition to the International Committee of the Red Cross urging them to change this decision. Palestinian prisoners and their families need support – not yet more roadblocks in the way of family life and family connections!

Palestinian astrophysicist appeals to Supreme Court against Facebook-posting military indictment

21 July 2016

Palestinian astrophysics professor Imad Barghouthi is appealing to the Israeli Supreme Court against his indictment in Israeli military court for “incitement” due to posting on Facebook, said his lawyer, Jawad Boulos, on 20 July.

In the context of this appeal, the Ofer military court postponed Barghouthi’s hearing until 21 August, following the Supreme Court’s action on the appeal. Barghouthi, 54, a world-renowned professor of astrophysics at Al-Quds University, was arrested on 24 April at a military checkpoint near Nabi Saleh.

He was ordered to administrative detention without charge or trial, an act which sparked protests from scientists and academics around the world. Hundreds of scientists and other academics rallied around Barghouthi, signing petitions and demanding his release. AURDIP (the Association of Academics for the Respect of International Law in Palestine, France), BRICUP (British Committee for the Universities of Palestine), and BACBI (Belgian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel) have appealed to the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, urging him to request the suspension of the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel until Barghouthi is freed.

Following the submission of multiple petitions by international scientists for Barghouthi’s release, his administrative detention order was reduced first to two months, and then to one month. When he was scheduled to be released on 29 May, the Israeli occupation prosecution instead filed “incitement” charges against him and transferred his case to the military courts. Much of the military charges are based on the number of Barghouthi’s facebook friends, and the numbers of “likes” and “shares” received on his posts. Barghouthi is among hundreds of Palestinians targeted for arrest, imprisonment and military prosecution for writing and speaking on social media about their experience under occupation and support for Palestinian liberation.

The continued imprisonment of Barghouthi comes as Scientists for Palestine works with the Arab American University in Jenin to launch the First Palestinian Advanced Physics School. At the school, advanced Palestinian master students in physics from several Palestinian universities (Al Quds University, Birzeit University, An Najah University, the Arab American University in Jenin (AAUJ), and the Islamic University in Gaza) will listen to lectures and engage in scientific discussion with internationally leading physicists in topics at the frontiers of physics research. Lecturers at the school will include Philip Argyres, professor of theoretical particle physics at the University of Cincinnati in the United States; John Ellis, the Clerk Maxwell Professor of Theoretical Physics at King’s College London and visiting scientist at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland (home of the Large Hadron Collider, where the Higgs boson was discovered in 2012); and Giorgio Paolucci, Scientific Director of SESAME (a synchrotron light-source laboratory in Jordan established by a group of Middle Eastern countries including Palestine and scheduled to begin operation in 2017). The school is organized by physicists from the universities of Amsterdam, AAUJ, Birzeit, Cambridge, CERN, Cincinnati, and Southampton.

14 scientists, including leading physicist Freeman Dyson at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton ; David Mumford, recipient of the Fields Medal 1974 (the “Nobel prize of math”) ; and Chandler Davis, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the University of Toronto, recently published a letter in the 14 July issue of Nature drawing attention to Barghouthi’s imprisonment. Nature cut the letter dramatically, eliminating the context of Israeli assaults on Palestinian academia.

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