20 Brazilian organizations, unions, parties demand: Free Bilal Kayed!

29 June 2016

A number of Brazilian organizations, including Left political parties, labor unions, women’s and students’ organization, and the Landless Workers Movement, have joined together to issue a statement demanding freedom for imprisoned Palestinian Bilal Kayed, recently ordered to six months’ administrative detention after the completion of his 14.5 year sentence in Israeli prisons. Kayed is on hunger strike and hundreds of his fellow prisoners have joined in protest actions to demand his freedom; people around the world are urging his release. The statement follows:

The imprisoned leader was arrested on 14 December 2001, following his participation in resistance activities during the second intifada as a militant of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

He was subjected to harsh and lengthy interrogation for two months, during which the occupation was unable to obtain any useful information. The prosecutors presented an indictment against him, and he was sentenced to 14 1/2 years in prison. Now, another six months have been added to his sentence. He began a new phase of combative struggle inside Israeli prisons beginning in 2002, as the prisoners came under a fierce attack by the prison administration at that time, during the second intifada amid the invasion of Palestinian cities.

On 13 June 2016, Bilal Kayed should have left the prison, but instead the Israeli occupation authorities transferred him to administrative detention for six months, as practiced by the occupation authorities, as a means of unending torture and imprisonment against Palestinian prisoners.

Administrative detention is imprisonment without charge or trial, based on secret evidence and the secret file. The prisoner and their lawyer are denied access to them. Under Israeli military law, these orders can be renewed repeatedly; each order is for a period of up to six months, renewable.

The administrative detention practice exists in Palestine since 1945, the time of the British imperialist occupation in Palestine.

The number of Palestinian prisoners exceeds 7,000 prisoners, including 700 in administrative detention, 400 children under 18, 69 women, 489 with life sentences.

We demand the immediate release of the Palestinian prisoner Bilal Kayed and all Palestinian political prisoners and an end to the practice of administrative detention that violates human rights and international law.

Signatories:

1. Esquerda Marxista. (Marxist Left)
2. Partido Comunista do Brasil – PCdoB (Communist Party of Brazil)
3. Partido Comunista Brasileiro PCB (Brazilian Communist Party)
4. Partido Socialista de Trabalhadores Unificados – PSTU (Socialist Party of United Workers)
5. Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Terra Rurais the MST. (Landless Workers Movement – MST)
6. União da Juventude Comunista (UJC-Brasil) (Communist Youth Union)
7. Unidade Classista (Classista Unit)
8. Comitê de Solidariedade com a Luta do Povo palestino (RJ) (Committee for Solidarity with the Struggle of the Palestinian People – Rio de Janeiro)
9. Comitê Democrática de Palestina (Democratic Palestine Committee)
10. Centro Brasileiro de Solidariedade aos Povos e Luta pela Paz. (Brazilian Center of Solidarity with the Peoples and Struggle for Peace)
11. Campanha Global pelo Retorno a Palestina – Brasil. (Global Campaign to Return to Palestine – Brazil)
12. Comitê de Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino Abcdmrr / SP (Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People – ABCDMRR/Sao Paulo)
13. Núcleo de Estudos Gamal Abdel Nasser – Geopolítica do Mundo Árabe e Oriente Médio – NESNASSER (Gamal Abdel Nasser Studies Center – Geopolitics of the Arab World and the Middle East)
14. Centro Universitario Fundação Santo André / SP (University Center Fundação Santo André / Sao Paulo)
15. Sindicato dos Professores do SINPRO ABC ABC. (Union of Teachers – SINPRO/ABC ABC)
16. Frente em Defesa do Povo Palestino (Front in Defense of the Palestinian People)
17. CSP – Conlutas
18. Movimento Mulheres em Luta (Movement of Women in Struggle)
19. Anel Assembleia Nacional dos Estudantes Livre (National Assembly of Free Students)
20. Ciranda Internacional de Comunicação Compartilhada (Ciranda International for Shared Communication)

**
Bilal Kayed foi preso em 14/12/2001 na sequência da sua participação nas atividades de resistência durante a segunda Intifada (Alaqsa) como militante da Frente Popular para a Libertação da Palestina.

Foi submetido a dura e longa interrogação durante dois meses, não conseguindo a obter qualquer informação dele. Foi apresentada uma lista de acusação pelos investigadores e condenado a 14 anos e meio, e mais tarde acrescentou a esta condenação mais seis meses para iniciar uma nova fase de luta combativa dentro dos cárceres israelenses no início de 2002. Sob feroz ataque foi lançado contra os presos pela administração de serviço dos prisioneiros durante a segunda Intifada e invasão das cidades palestinas na época.

Em 13 de junho de 2016, o prisioneiro Bilal Kaed deveria deixar a prisão, mas as forças de ocupação Israelenses transferiram para prisão administrativa de seis meses, estilo de prática pelas autoridades de ocupação, como uma maneira de tortura e prisão sem fim contra os presos palestinos.

A detenção administrativa é sem acusação ou julgamento, com base em provas e arquivos secretos. O preso e seu advogado não podem ter acesso a elas, e conforme as ordens militares israelenses podem ser renovadas várias vezes, a ordem de prisão administrativa é para um período de seis meses e poderá ser renovável.
A prisão administrativa é uma lei existente desde 1945, da época da ocupação do imperialismo britânico na Palestina.

Os prisioneiros palestinos ultrapassam 7 mil presos, entre eles 500 em detenção administrativa, 400 menores de 18 anos, 13 deputados, 69 mulheres, 461 com condenação perpétua,

Exigimos a libertação imediata do prisioneiro palestino Bilal Kaed e todos os prisioneiros políticos palestinos e por fim a prática de prisão administrativa que viola os direitos humanos conforme as leis internacionais.

Assinam:
1- Esquerda Marxista.
2- Partido Comunista do Brasil – PCdoB
3- Partido Comunista Brasileiro PCB
4- Partido Socialista de Trabalhadores Unificados – PSTU
5- Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra MST.
6- União da Juventude Comunista (UJC-Brasil)
7- Unidade Classista
8- Comitê de Solidariedade com a luta do Povo palestino (RJ)
9- Comitê de Palestina Democrática
10- Centro Brasileiro de Solidariedade aos povos e luta pela Paz.
11- Campanha Global pelo Retorno a Palestina – Brasil.
12- Comitê de Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino Abcdmrr/SP
13- Núcleo de Estudos Gamal Abdel Nasser – Geopolítica do Mundo Árabe e Oriente Médio – NESNASSER
14- Centro Universitario Fundação Santo André/SP
15- Sindicato dos Professores do ABC SINPRO ABC.
16- Frente em defesa do Povo Palestino
17- CSP – Conlutas
18- Movimento Mulheres em Luta
19- Anel Assembleia Nacional dos Estudantes Livre
20- Ciranda Internacional de Comunicação Compartilhada

New Videos: Suha Kayed calls for support for her brother Bilal, striking for freedom

28 June 2016

Suha Kayed, the sister of imprisoned Palestinian Bilal Kayed, on hunger strike since 14 June in protest of his administrative detention without charge or trial following the expiration of his 14.5 year sentence in Israeli prisons, has recorded two new videos, calling on Palestinians, Arabs and international seekers of justice to support her brother in his strike.

Kayed’s comrades in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Palestinian prisoners across political lines have been participating in escalating steps of protest within the prison, including hunger strikes, demanding his freedom. Kayed’s case is seen as threatening a dangerous precedent of imprisoning Palestinian prisoners indefinitely following the expiration of lengthy sentences. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are participating in hunger strike protest actions demanding Kayed’s freedom.

Around the world, protests, actions and events are being organized to demand Kayed’s release and the end of administrative detention. On 24-25 June, numerous international events raised the call for freedom for Kayed.

The videos are available in German (with English subtitles) and in Arabic (with English subtitles)

Suha Kayed on her brother’s struggle for freedom – in German (with English subtitles)

Suha Kayed on her brother’s struggle – in Arabic (with English subtitles)

Bilal Kayed transferred to isolation in Ahli Kedar prison

28 June 2016

Palestinian prisoner Bilal Kayed, on his 14th day of hunger strike, was transferred on Monday, 27 June, from isolation in Ramon prison to isolation in Ahli Kedar prison in Beersheba.

Isolation and transfers are frequently used by the Israeli prison administration in order to undermine prisoner protests, including hunger strikes. Kayed launched his strike on 14 June after being ordered to six months’ administrative detention upon the expiration of his 14.5 year sentence in Israeli prison on 13 June.

His comrades in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Palestinian prisoners across political lines have been participating in escalating steps of protest within the prison, including hunger strikes, demanding Kayed’s freedom. Among them are 11 prisoners in Jalameh prison, who have been hunger striking for one week in solidarity with Kayed; their lawyer, Jalal Abu Wasel, noted the poor conditions in the jail, which is provided with security equipment by multinational security corporation G4S, including poor hygiene, insect infestation, and intolerable heat.

Kayed’s case is seen as threatening a dangerous precedent of imprisoning Palestinian prisoners indefinitely following the expiration of lengthy sentences. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are participating in hunger strike protest actions demanding Kayed’s freedom. The PFLP affiliated prisoners have announced they will join Kayed in a full open-ended hunger strike in early July should he remain imprisoned.

A military court hearing to confirm Kayed’s administrative detention was postponed until 6 July after he refused to attend or participate in the scheduled hearing last week, declaring that the court and process has no legitimacy.

There are over 700 administrative detainees in Israeli jails, held without charge or trial on the basis of secret evidence. Administrative detention orders, issued for one to six month periods, are indefinitely renewable.

People around the world have participated in protests to free Kayed, as thousands have taken to the streets in Palestine to demand his release.

Cartoon for Bilal Kayed by Mohammed Sabaaneh

Palestinian father, advocate for families of bodies withheld by Israeli occupation, arrested in Jerusalem

28 June 2016

On Monday, 27 June, Israeli occupation forces arrested Mohammed Alayan, a lawyer and the father of Bahaa Alayan, 22, from Jabal al-Mukabber in Jerusalem, who was killed by Israeli forces on 13 October 2015 and whose body remains withheld from his family, imprisoned by the Israeli occupation.

Mohammed Alayan has been a visible and active leader in the movement of families to reclaim the imprisoned bodies of their sons and daughters killed by Israeli occupation forces and being held by the occupation for months after their deaths.

In an early afternoon raid on his home in Jerusalem, Alayan was arrested by occupation forces and taken to Moskobiyeh interrogation center; his interrogation has been extended for an additional 24 hours and he will be brought before a court in Jerusalem today, 28 June.

Bahaa Alyan was widely involved in cultural and creative resistance; a graphic designer, he organized children’s programs and founded the Local Youth Initiative in Jabal al-Mukabber. He established a public library, the first in the neighborhood, and organized a human reading chain around the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem that was also an effort to reclaim the Palestinian right to space and assembly at Damascus Gate and the Old City of Jerusalem.

Bahaa was killed on 13 October by Israeli occupation forces while he participated in a resistance operation in Jerusalem. His family’s home – housing 25 people on three floors – was demolished by the Israeli occupation and his body captured and withheld, with occupation forces refusing to turn it over to his family.

Mohammed Alayan has been a leader in the movement of the families to return the imprisoned bodies, going to the Israeli Supreme Court to demand the return of the bodies and speaking publicly about his son, home demolitions and the imprisonment of his body and collective persecution of families by the Israeli occupation. Far-right settler organizations hailed the arrest of Alayan, saying that he should be arrested for “collect[ing] funds for the reconstruction of terrorists’ homes…turn[ing] to the Supreme Court to secure the return of terrorists’ bodies. Moreover, he mounted a media campaign against Israel.” As is clear, these allegations are accusations of nothing more than public participation and support for entire families subject to illegitimate collective punishment by the Israeli occupation.

Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association lawyer Mohammed Mahmoud said that Alayan was being accused of affiliation with a “prohibited organization,” or with incitement. All Palestinian political parties are labeled prohibited organizations by the Iaraeli occupation.

Alayan met with the US Anti-Prison, Labor and Academic Delegation to Palestine in March, 2016, where he said, “The Israelis have imposed collective punishment on us in many ways. First, they basically kidnap and hold under siege the body of our son. Since October 13 until now, six months later, they refuse to release him. Second, they demolish the homes — our home that has the memories of love, of pain, of happiness, of all the things that have happened among us. The third is they are threatening to deport us to Gaza or to Syria. They think, wrongly, that collective punishment is going to affect the struggle [of] Palestinians for their freedom. We’ll stop resistance when the occupation ends, not through collective punishment.”

Youngest administrative detainee Hamza Hammad ordered to four more months in prison without charge

28 June 2016

The Israeli administrative detention order against Palestinian boy, Hamza Hammad, was renewed on Monday, 27 June for an additional four months. Hammad, 16, from Silwad near Ramallah, has been imprisoned without charge or trial on the basis of secret evidence since 28 February 2016.

Hamza, an 11th-grade student, was arrested in an armed raid by occupation forces on his home at 2:00 am; his family was awakened by the explosion of their front door by occupation forces. He is the youngest Palestinian held under administrative detention and one of several children, held in Ofer prison. His father is imprisoned and serving several life sentences; Hamza has been denied permission to visit his father since his arrest in 2003.

He was previously arrested for 22 days in August 2015 and repeatedly interrogated at the Moskobiyeh interrogation center, subject to torture and ill-treatment before his release. Addameer writes that “the detention affected his health severely; he suffers from continuous backache because of all the beating, and stomach ache believed to be caused by the food he was given during the interrogation period.”

Hamza Hammad is one of over 700 Palestinians held under administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial under indefinitely renewable military orders. Another 22 administrative detention orders have also been issued this week against Palestinians. He is also one of nearly 400 Palestinian children imprisoned in Israeli jails.

Egyptian prisoner Mohammed al-Sayed remains jailed by Israel one month after his sentence ends

28 June 2016

Egyptian prisoner in Israeli jails, Mohammed Hassan al-Sayed, 39, remains imprisoned after the completion of his 13 year sentence on 27 May. The Israeli occupation has claimed that the Egyptian state refused to receive him, saying that as he was arrested in Gaza he should be returned to Gaza; the Israeli state has refused to do so, saying they will only return him to Egypt.

Sayed is from Cairo and was arrested by Israeli occupation forces on 29 May 2003, participating in resistance against armed Israeli soldiers in central Gaza.

The Palestine Prisoners Center for Studies warned that Sayed is in danger of being ordered to administrative detention to extend his imprisonment, as is currently happening with the case of Bilal Kayed, whose sentence ended on 13 June after 14.5 years – only to be immediately ordered to administrative detention.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network joins the Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies to urgently demand the Egyptian government intervene and seek the immediate release and return of their citizen to his Egyptian homeland and family.

Palestinian student sentenced to 10 months in Israeli prison

28 June 2016

Palestinian student Baraa Amer, 19, a student at an-Najah University and a resident of Kafr Qalil in southern Nablus, was sentenced on Monday, 27 June to 10 months imprisonment and a fine of 3,000 shekels ($675 USD).

Arrested two months ago, Amer is involved with the student Islamic Bloc at the University, and was previously arrested along with 18 fellow students by Palestinian Authority forces in 2015. Amer was arrested by Israeli occupation forces amid ongoing student elections at the university; active members of Palestinian student blocs are frequently targeted for arrest and persecution, especially at the height of election campaigning.

Baraa was arrested one day before his final exams in a 2:00 am raid on his home by armed Israeli occupation forces. His father, Nawwaf, is a journalist and former political prisoner himself.

The arrests of Palestinian students continue. On Saturday, 25 June, Israeli occupation forces arrested Ahmed Hussam Khader, 19, as he traveled south of Nablus; Khader is the son of Fateh Palestinian Legislative Council member Hussam Khader and a student of political science at Bir Zeit University.

30 June, Berlin: Day of Hunger Strike for Freedom for Bilal Kayed

27 June 2016

Thursday, 30 June 2016
From 11:00 am
Breitscheidplatz
Berlin, Germany 10789

U-Bahn Zoologischer Garden

Organized by the Democratic Palestine Committees

Join a call to action on Thursday, 30 June in Berlin, Germany to stand in solidarity with Bilal Kayed and fellow prisoners on hunger strike in response to the arbitrary administrative detention order against Palestinian prisoner Bilal after the completion of his 14.5 year sentence in Israeli jails.

15 July, NYC: Imprisoned Resistance: Politics of Incarceration in Palestine & the U.S.

27 June 2016

What government in the world incarcerates one person in five, including, at some point in their lives 40% of the male population?

It’s not the US, but close—its chief partner, Israel, which incarcerates thousands of Palestinians including, in the past six months alone, more than 400 children.

With the Netanyahu regime unleashing aggression against Palestinians and a global attempt—especially in New York State—to silence the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions Movement, it is a critical time for US activists to act in solidarity with Palestine. In the tradition of the Black power movement, the movement for Black lives, and the Pelican Bay hunger strikes of the past few years, we need to stand with Palestine.

Join us on Friday, July 15th for a discussion of how the US and Israel use incarceration to contain and dismantle resistance—and how we can push back. Members of two recent delegations to Palestine—a prison, labor and academic delegation and a Dream Defenders delegation—will report on what we saw and heard, and how it echoes current repression and current struggles for justice here.

As the world mourns the death of the courageous Muhammad Ali, remember that he said, in 1974: “In my name and the name of all Muslims in America, I declare support for the Palestinian struggle to liberate their homeland and oust the Zionist invaders.”

Friday, 15 July
6:30 pm
Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center
3940 Broadway, NYC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1160583790659837
Organized by the 2016 U.S. Prison, Labor, & Academic Delegation to Palestine

8 July, NYC: Protest to free Bilal Kayed and stop G4S

27 June 2016

Bilal Kayed, one of 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel, had been scheduled for years to be released on June 13, the end of a 14 1/2-year sentence by an Israeli military court in the occupied West Bank.

Instead, on the morning his family and friends planned to welcome him home, he was given an administrative detention order, a decree by an Israeli military commander sentencing him to six more months’ imprisonment, without charge or trial and subject to indefinite renewal.

Now one of 715 Palestinian administrative detainees in Israeli prisons, Bilal launched a hunger strike on June 14 to demand his freedom.

Stand with Bilal on his 25th day of hunger strike to demand that Israel release him, other administrative detainees, and all Palestinian politicial prisoners immediately, and that occupation profiteer G4S end its contracts with Israeli prisons and detention centers, occupation and security forces, and checkpoints now.

Join us to answer a united appeal by Palestinian prisoners for escalated boycotts of G4S.

Support the Palestinian people, the Palestinian prisoners, the Palestinian Resistance, and the liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea.

Friday, 8 July
4:00 pm
G4S Offices – NYC
19 W. 44th St, NYC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1752653764948348
Organized by Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network

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