26 February, London: Demand Freedom for Mohammed Al-Qeeq – Protest G4S complicity in his torture & caging

25 February 2016

Date: Fri 26th Feb 2016 5pm-7pm
Location: G4S HQ, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT (Closest public transport: Victoria Tube/Rail station)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/907481582699179/
Web: http://inminds.com/article.php?id=10699

24th Feb 2016, www.inminds,com

This friday will be the 94th day of hunger strike for tortured Palestinian journalist Mohammed Al-Qeeq who has been imprisoned for his reporting, without charge or trial, by Israel since last November.

Mohammed went on hunger strike to protest his torture after they threatened to rape him, his wife and his children.

Mohammed Al-Qeeq’s lawyers have warned that his life hangs by a thread, he could die at any moment. He can no longer breath easily and is suffering severe pain. His body has “collapsed”. His eye sight is going, has low heart rate, is unable to talk, and is suffering extreme cramps and stiffness. Doctors in HaEmek Medical Center are anticipating his death at any moment.

Mohammed Al-Qeeq’s wife Fayha Shalash has appealed on video in english for international support to save Mohammed’s life.

VIDEO – Mohammed Al-Qeeq’s wife Fayha Shalash

Please join us this friday as we protest outside the headquarters of the British security contractor G4S, that secures Megiddo prison – the Israeli dungeon Mohammed was imprisoned in, and Al-Jalame – the Israeli torture den Mohammed was tortured in for 25 days. Join us demand freedom for Mohammed Al-Qeeq and all Palestinian political prisoners, and to demand G4S end its complicity in Israel’s war crimes.

25 February, NYC: The state of childhood in Palestine

24 February 2016

Thursday, 25 February
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Saint Joseph’s College – 345 Clinton Ave, Brooklyn
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1672062186407549/
Organized by Students for Justice in Palestine at Saint Joseph’s College

Free and open to the public. Tuohy Student Lounge. Refreshments served!

Join Beth Miller, Defense for Children International-Palestine representative, to discuss issues facing Palestinian children in the occupied territories- detention, Israeli military violence, and other violations of international law- and how DCI is working to uphold the rights of the child in Palestine.

For more information contact Students for Justice in Palestine at St. Joseph’s College at sjpatsjc@gmail.com or visit dci-palestine.org

“Being involved in DCIP activities, attending training courses on child rights, and participating in other national advocacy events was empowering. I met children from different places and various social and cultural backgrounds, which gave me the opportunity to better understand life and the realities for children within Palestinian society.” – Zeina, 15, member of DCIP Child Council in Nablus

Take Action: Urge the US Congress to demand that Israel free Mohammed al-Qeeq

24 February 2016

If you are a citizen or resident of the United States, please urge your members of the Senate and House of Representatives to demand that Israel free Mohammed al-Qeeq immediately.

As a body that allocates billions of dollars in economic and military aid to Israel, Congress shares responsibility for Israel’s crimes against Palestinians, including its torture and detention of political prisoners.

Al-Qeeq, a Palestinian journalist, has been on a continuous hunger strike since November 25 to protest his torture and “administrative detention” – indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial – by Israel.

Al-Qeeq has rejected an Israeli Supreme Court decision to “suspend” his administrative detention – until he recovers enough to leave the hospital – instead demanding his immediate freedom.

The Israeli military prosecution continues to deny him family visits, even as his attorneys and independent physicians warn that he is in danger of death at any moment and unlikely to fully recover.

Al-Qeeq is one of 6,900 Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel, including 650 administrative detainees and 18 journalists. Nearly all are tortured during interrogations by Israeli forces.

Please take a moment to customize the letter, rewriting it in original words and adding your own ideas! A creative message will count for much more than one that looks exactly like dozens of others.

1 March, Brussels: Let’s Talk About the Occupation

24 February 2016

As part of Israeli Apartheid Week at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, join this event on Palestinian prisoners, the economy under occupation, and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/929360733825955/

Come and join us to this interesting event about the occupation in Palestine!
We will talk about Israel’s economic interests of the occupation, about the condition of Palestinian Political prisoners and about solutions that we can apply here in Belgium to make an end to this.
Finally, some Palestinian students are happy to share with you their experience of living under occupation! For the program, see below!

Our Guest Speakers:

1) Shir HEVER: The Political Economy of Israel’s Occupation

Shir Hever is an Israeli author and economist in the Alternative Information Center, a Palestinian-Israeli organization active in Jerusalem and Beit-Sahour. He researches the economic aspect of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory. Some of his research topics include the international aid to the Palestinians and to Israel, the effects of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories on the Israeli economy, and the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns against Israel.

2) Mohammed KHATIB : Political Prisoners Condition under The Occupation

Mohammed Khatib is an active member of Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. This is a network of organizers and activists, based in North America, working to raise awareness and build solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in their struggle for freedom. M. Khatib will provide us information about their condition, their demands, and their work for freedom for themselves, their fellow prisoners, and their homeland. He will also highlight some actual cases of political prisoners.

3) Michael DEAS: What is The Solution to The Occupation?

What can we, as Belgian and European citizens, do for more justice? How can we challenge the occupation?

Michael Deas is a European coordinator of the Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS). He will provide us relevant and practical information about the BDS organisation and all the solutions it offers to make an end to the occupation.

4) Palestinian students living in Belgium: How is The Life of a Student under Occupation?

Some Palestinian students will share with you their experience of living and studying under the Israeli occupation.

> Where?
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Pleinlaan 2
1050 Elsene
Room: Will be communicated shortly!

Organized by Students for Justice in Palestine-VUB in collaboration with Comac VUB and l’Association Belgo-Palestinienne (ABP)

Take Action: Urge Bernie Sanders to demand Israel free Mohammed al-Qeeq

23 February 2016

Please sign and share this petition urging US senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to take immediate action for Mohammed al-Qeeq.

On July 15, 1981, as mayor of Burlington, Vermont, Bernie Sanders spoke out for Irish political prisoners on hunger strike against their treatment by the British government.

“We are deeply disturbed by your government’s unwillingness to stop the abuse, humiliation and degrading treatment of Irish prisoners now on hunger strikes in Northern Ireland,” he wrote to Margaret Thatcher, then prime minister of the United Kingdom.

“We ask you to end your intransigent policy towards the prisoners before the reputation of the English people for fair play and simple decency is further damaged in the eyes of the people of Vermont and the United States.”

Today, as a United States senator and presidential candidate, he should do no less for Mohammed al-Qeeq, a Palestinian journalist and political prisoner who, on February 23, entered the 91st day of a hunger strike protesting his torture and “administrative detention” – imprisonment without charge or trial – by Israel.

Tragically, Sanders’ 1981 appeal fell on deaf ears, and ten Irish hunger strikers died.

But despite his record-breaking fast, al-Qeeq is still – barely – alive. And unlike the UK, Israel’s treatment of Palestinians relies on billions of dollars in economic and military support from the US government, giving Sanders both influence and responsibility.

“Subvertisements” in London Tube highlight role of G4S in oppression in Palestine

23 February 2016

London Palestine Action activists launched Israeli Apartheid Week – the global week of action highlighting Israeli occupation, settler colonialism and apartheid against Palestinians – with mock advertisements posted by grassroots activists inside the London Underground on Sunday, 21 February.

The “subvertisements” – posted in front of existing advertisements in the Tube – look like real advertisements, but instead carry a message about government and corporate complicity and support for Israeli occupation and apartheid. The ads highlight BBC pro-Israeli, anti-Palestinian bias, British arms sales to Israel, and home demolitions.

In particular, a mock G4S ad highlights the role of the British-Danish security corporation in the imprisonment and arrest of Palestinian children.

150 “subvertisements” were posted on at least 4 different Underground lines by activists; the action has infuriated Israeli politicians and political officials, who labeled the ads “inciteful.” It should be noted that Palestinians are frequently arrested and imprisoned for lengthy periods for spoken or written “incitement.”

London Palestine Action activists issued the statement below, from Electronic Intifada:

London Tube Subvertisment: The campaign was done by activists from London Palestine Action (LPA) for the launch of the Israeli Apartheid Week 2016. Approximately 150 posters were neatly placed on top of adverts already located in the tube carriages. The reasoning behind the action was not only to promote the start of the Israeli Apartheid Week but also to counterattack Western media’s silence over the situation in Palestine. As public bodies, local councils and student unions are threatened to be banned by law from boycotting “unethical” companies, Israeli Apartheid Week and similar collective actions are more crucial and relevant than ever. The subvertisments cover four issues:

The BBC repeatedly sacrificing the truth on the altar of their pro-Israeli bias

The infamous British security company, G4S, helping in the imprisonment and abuse of thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of children

The UK – Israeli arms trade resulting in massacres of Palestinians, but also greasing the cogs of the Israeli apartheid machine

The destruction of Palestinian homes becoming a means of routine collective punishment under the Israeli occupation

BBC Bias: In the first eight months of 2015, Israeli occupation forces injured more than 1,372 Palestinians and between October – December 2015, 116 Palestinians were killed. Not only has the Western media ignored the extrajudicial killings but the coverage misrepresented and was completely bias towards Israel, particularly in the BBC news. Once again, BBC was forced to admit its coverage of the situation in the West bank has been misleading and refuses to acknowledge Palestinian deaths and their suffering under occupation. In a letter to Netanyahu, B’Tselem condemned the Israeli government: “Your government permits – and encourages – the transformation of police officers, and even of armed civilians, into judges and executioners.” Dania Irshied, a 17 year old, was one of the many victims of extrajudicial killings that continue until today. Amnesty International called on Israel to bring its “pattern of unlawful killings” to an end.

Child prisoners and G4S: More than 500 Palestinian children are arrested, detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system every year. G4S provides services to the Israeli prison system making it complicit in the illegal occupation of Palestine and the unlawful imprisonment of Palestinians, including children. By outsourcing occupation-related work to G4S, the Israeli state frees itself from accountability for human rights violations and breaches of international laws. G4S is one of the UK’s most reviled companies engaged in conflict related profit making the world over.

Apartheid is Great (Britain): UK is directly complicit in Israel’s continuing violations of human rights and international law. British-made arms worth £7m were used by Israel to massacre more than 2,000 Palestinians in Gaza. By purchasing arms from and selling arms to Israel, the UK government is giving direct material support for Israel’s aggression and sending a clear message of approval for its actions. Almost 100 companies supplying military & security equipment to Israel are based in the UK. Amongst suppliers on your doorstep are BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, G4S, Boeing, Elbit Systems. Israeli companies make enormous profits from military technology that is “field-tested” on Palestinians. The UK government sponsors three “major defence and security exhibitions in the UK” – DSEI, Farnborough International and Security & Policing arm fairs.

House Demolitions: Since October 2015, 29 demolitions were carried out in occupied East Jerusalem. In January 2016, Israel demolished three Palestinian homes in punitive actions, leaving 18 persons homeless. In 2014, Israel demolished 1,177 homes in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. This policy is a form of collective punishment, and in accordance with humanitarian and human rights law, is assessed as a war crime and a crime against humanity.

Samidoun speaks, calls for action at the European Parliament on the case of Mohammed al-Qeeq

22 February 2016

Samidoun representatives Charlotte Kates and Mohammed Khatib spoke at an emergency session of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Palestine on Monday, 22 February 2016. The session was called to address the case of imprisoned Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq on his 90th day of hunger strike.

The session was chaired by MEP Margrete Auken of Denmark; the chair of the delegation is MEP Martina Anderson of Ireland. The delegation traveled to Palestine on 8-12 February; the detention of Palestinian prisoners was one of the key issues explored in meetings with human rights organizations and officials.

Kates addressed the current situation of al-Qeeq, detailing the progress of his case, his experience of torture under interrogation, and his current state of detention in HaEmek hospital, denied family visits and transfer to a Palestinian hospital even as the Israeli high court labels his detention “suspended.” She discussed the systematic nature of Israeli administrative detention against hundreds of Palestinians – at present, approximately 690 Palestinians are held without charge or trial, as well as the role of Israeli military courts in the mass imprisonment of Palestinians. She discussed why “charge or release” is not a solution for Palestinians held in administrative detention, as there is no more justice to be found in occupation military courts that convict over 99% of the Palestinians who appear before them.

Khatib addressed the origins of administrative detention in Palestine, noting that it was imposed by the British mandate over Palestine and then incorporated into Israeli occupation law as an ongoing colonial practice. In addition, he discussed al-Qeeq’s role in the Palestinian prisoners’ movement and the Palestinian national movement, emphasizing that despite all concerns and discussions about Palestinian unity, all Palestinian political forces are unified around the call to free al-Qeeq and his fellow Palestinian political prisoners, and bring an end to administrative detention. Khatib also discussed the case of Omar Nayef Zayed, former Palestinian prisoner currently threatened with extradition from Bulgaria, as an urgent case of a Palestinian facing imprisonment with the full involvement of an EU member state.

Several members of Parliament emphasized the importance of taking urgent action on the case of al-Qeeq as his life is threatened at any time, including calling upon the European Commission to take substantive action. MEP Neoklis Sylikiotis of Cyprus emphasized the call to freeze the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and noted that his own parliamentary question to the European Commission on this matter had not been addressed; while MEP Edouard Martin of France also urged strong action from the EU, noting also the case of imprisoned Palestinian legislator Khalida Jarrar.

Kates and Khatib urged immediate action on the case of al-Qeeq and justice for Palestine more broadly, noting that the EU-Israel Association Agreement makes the European Union a partner in Israeli violations of Palestinian rights and Israeli occupation, calling for the agreement to be ended and suspended at a minimum; they emphasized the broad Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions and the need to answer that call with action, not repress the BDS movement as organizers are currently facing in France and elsewhere. Kates also noted that while the European Parliament ended its contract with G4S in a real victory for the call to boycott the corporation – that provides security equipment to Israeli checkpoints, prisons and police centers – other European institutions, including the Commission, continue to employ G4S, calling for those contracts to be cancelled.

Protesters in Paris call for freedom for imprisoned Palestinian journalist al-Qeeq

22 February 2016

On Saturday, 20 February, activists in Paris gathered at the Place d’Italie, calling for the freedom of Mohammed al-Qeeq – then on his 88th day of hunger strike – and all Palestinian prisoners.

Organized by CAPJPO-Europalestine, demonstrators set up an information table with Palestinian flags, informational leaflets, and information about Mohammed al-Qeeq and other Palestinian prisoners. Al-Qeeq is a Palestinian journalist currently on his 91st day of hunger strike, held in HaEmek hospital in Afula, demanding his freedom from Israeli administrative detention: imprisonment without charge or trial.

CAPJPO-EuroPalestine is organizing another protest this coming Saturday, 27 February, for freedom for al-Qeeq and his fellow 7000 Palestinian prisoners.

27 February, Paris: Protest for freedom for Mohammed al-Qeeq!

22 February 2016

Saturday, 27 February
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Place de la Republique
Paris, France

(Near the exit of Metro Republique)

We must escalate the mobilization to free imprisoned Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq, on hunger strike for 90 days against his administrative detention.

We call to:

Alert the public of the situation of Mohammed al-Qeeq and all Palestinian political prisoners; Declare the French government’s complicity with violations of human rights and international law by its privileged ally; and denounce the maneuvers of French officials to support occupation and colonization.

Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine

Full call in French

Il faut amplifier la mobilisation pour la libération du journaliste palestinien Mohamed Al-Qiq en grève de la faim depuis 90 jours, contre sa détention administrative. Nous appelons à un nouveau rassemblement ce samedi 27 février, Place de la République à Paris !

Ils sont près de 7000 hommes, femmes et enfants, prisonniers politiques palestiniens dans les geôles israéliennes, dont quelque 650 en détention adminisrtative, c’est à dire, sans inculpation, procès, ni accès à leur dossier par leur avocat. Et cela pour des durées indéterminées.

Le régime israélien viole le droit international, notamment es conventions de Genève, et tous ces prisonniers n’ont qu’une arme pour se défendre : la grève de la faim.

Mohamed AL-Qiq, 33ans, et père de 2 enfants, EN GRÈVE DE LA FAIM DEPUIS LE 25 NOVEMBRE DERNIER, est en train de mourir. Il a des moments de perte de conscience.

Après l’avoir isolé de manière inhumaine dans une cellule de ses prisons, et l’avoir privé de visites familiales, Israel refuse son transfert dans un hôpital de Ramallah, alors qu’il n’a commis aucun délit.

L’armée d’occupation a même effectué un raid au sein de l’hôpital israélien d’Afula dans lequel il se trouve prisonnier.

Des protestations ont lieu dans le monde entier.

Nous devons également les multiplier en France.

NOUS VOUS DEMANDONS DE VENIR NOMBREUX

À UN RASSEMBLEMENT PLACE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE À PARIS

CE SAMEDI 27 FÉVRIER, ENTRE 14 H ET 17 H

(Près de la sortie du Métro République, sur le terre-plein central)

POUR ALERTER LA POPULATION SUR LA SITUATION DE MOHAMMED AL-QIQ ET DE TOUS LES PRISONNIERS POLITIQUES PALESTINIENS

POUR DÉNONCER LA COMPLICITÉ DU GOUVERNEMENT FRANÇAIS AVEC LES VIOLATIONS DES DROITS DE L’HOMME ET DU DROIT INTERNATIONAL DE SON ALLIÉ PRIVILÉGIÉ

POUR CONDAMNER LES MANOEUVRES DES DIRIGEANTS FRANÇAIS POUR CONFORTER L’OCCUPATION ET LA COLONISATION

Nous vous attendons nombreux !

(La liste des signataires de cet appel sera publiée rapidement)

CAPJPO-EuroPalestine

23 February, San Francisco: Protest to free Mohammed al-Qeeq

22 February 2016

Tuesday, 23 February
12:00 pm
Malcolm X Plaza
San Francisco State University – San Francisco, CA

Join the General Union of Palestine Students (GUPS) at SFSU for a protest in solidarity with Mohammed al-Qeeq, imprisoned Palestinian journalist on hunger strike for 91 days against his administrative detention without charge or trial. Stand for freedom for al-Qeeq and all Palestinian prisoners!

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