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!

Take Action: Tweet for al-Qeeq – 23 February at 2 pm EST, 7 pm GMT, 9 pm GMT+2

22 February 2016

Today marks the 90th day of Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq’s hunger strike. He is held under administrative detention, without charge or trial.

Israel’s Supreme Court ruled earlier this month to temporarily “suspend” al-Qeeq’s detention due to his deteriorating health, but the conditional suspension required that he remains in Israel’s HaEmek hospital in Afula. Mohammed Al-Qeeq has vowed to maintain his strike until transferred a hospital under Palestinian jurisdiction.

On Tuesday 23 February at 2 pm New York time, 7 pm London time, 9 pm Jerusalem time, we will be tweeting our support for Mohammed al-Qeeq and all Palestinian prisoners held in administrative detention. If you use Twitter, please join us. Follow @PSCupdates for the #hashtag.

Tweets by @PSCupdates

Please join us at 2 pm EST, 7 pm GMT, 9 pm GMT+2 on Tuesday 23 February. We need to make sure the world hears about Mohammed al-Qeeq.

25 February, Montevideo: Save Mohammed al-Qeeq!

22 February 2016

Thursday, 25 February
7:00 pm
Embassy of Israel
Luis A de Herrera and 26 de marzo
Montevideo, Uruguay

Save Mohammed al-Qeeq! 90 Days of Hunger Strike – Palestinian political prisoner in Zionist jail, detained without charges or trial.

90 days of hunger strike: Mohammed al-Qeeq denied family visits, is representing himself

22 February 2016

The Israeli military prosecution continues to deny imprisoned Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq family visits even as he is in danger of death at any moment. Al-Qeeq, 33, has been on hunger strike for 90 days in protest of his administrative detention without charge or trial by Israeli military order.

Despite the statement of the Israeli Supreme Court on 4 February that al-Qeeq’s detention was “suspended,” with the note that he could receive family visits, he has been consistently denied family visits since that time. His wife, Fayha Shalash and two small children, have been barred from visiting their husband and father. “Israeli human rights group B’Tselem says that al-Qiq is now being detained without any legal authority and that the high court has effectively ‘concocted a new legal myth – a person who is not free, yet is not detained,’ reported the Electronic Intifada.

On Sunday, the Israeli Supreme Court refused to hear a petition to allow Shalash and their children to visit al-Qeeq, instead deferring the matter to a Jerusalem district court.

Also on Sunday night, a deadline set by the Palestinian Prisoners Society for an agreement to release al-Qeeq to al-Makassed hospital in Jerusalem and end his administrative detention passed with no action, and al-Qeeq in a worsening health situation in haEmek hospital in Afula. The PPS announced that if the deadline passed with no action, they would cease to represent al-Qeeq and that the occupation bears sole responsibility for his life and health.

Al-Qeeq’s family announced on Monday morning that Mohammed does not have a lawyer and that he is his own lawyer and is the decision-maker in his case for any agreement.

Israeli police and guard dogs have been posted outside al-Qeeq’s hospital room and once again spread throughout the hospital on Monday morning, 22 February, as al-Qeeq entered his 90th day of hunger strike.

Issa Qaraqe, chair of the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, emphasized that all efforts will not cease to free al-Qeeq immediately. Palestinian doctors warned of the severe danger to his life at 90 days on hunger strike, including the potential for gallstones, severe pain and anemia, wasting of muscle, bleeding externally and internally, loss of consciousness, heart attack, vitamin deficiency and loss of memory.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network calls for EMERGENCY ACTION everywhere in the world to save Mohammed al-Qeeq and secure his freedom, in every city, on every campus, in every community. Events and actions have taken place in London, New York, Montreal, Berlin, Dublin, Brussels, Nicosia, Lebanon, Belfast, Cologne, Sheffield, Milan and throughout Palestine. Now is the time for protests, sit-ins, flyering, tabling, and call-in actions to raise the voice and the profile of Mohammed al-Qeeq and create real popular pressure for his immediate release.

Take Action:

1. Contact government officials and demand that they break their silence on Al-Qeeq and support for Israeli violations of Palestinian rights. Join today’s action for 90 days of hunger strike!

In the United States, call the Israel Foreign Service Desk 1-202-647-3672 and the White House – 202-456-1111. Demand action on al-Qeeq’s case and an end to aid to Israel. In the UK, call UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Philip Hammond, MP, +44 20 7008 1500 or email fcocorrespondence@fco.gov.uk. In Canada, call Foreign Minister Stephane Dion: 613-996-5789. In Belgium, call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at +32 (0)2 501 81 11 and demand Foreign Minister Didier Reynders act to free al-Qeeq. Throughout the European Union, contact the office of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, at federica.mogherini@ec.europa.eu. Demand action and serious pressure to free al-Qeeq.

2. Protest at an Israeli consulate or embassy (or federal building, G4S office or public square) and demand freedom for Mohammed al-Qeeq. Raise the issue of this case publicly and distribute information – this flyer is available for you to distribute at protests in your community. Find your closest Israeli consulate: http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/israel. Please email us at samidoun@samidoun.netto inform us of your action – we will publicize and share news with the prisoners.

3. Boycott, Divest and Sanction. Palestinians have urged an international boycott of Israeli goods and institutions – and corporations that profit from occupation , like G4S, the world’s largest private security company, that sells security equipment to Israeli prisons, checkpoints and police training centers – directly profiting from the occupation that destroys Palestinian lives. At the same time G4S profits from occupation, institutions like the United Nations continue to do business with it. Go to addameer.org/UNdropG4S to take action!

Sheffield activists for boycott of Israel, freedom for al-Qeeq and all Palestinian prisoners

22 February 2016

Members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign – Sheffield protested in Sheffield, UK, in front of the Co-Operative Bank on Saturday, 20 February, demanding freedom for imprisoned Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq and an end to the bank’s repeated closures of the accounts of Palestine solidarity organizations. Protesters also called for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.

Al-Qeeq, 33, has been on hunger strike for three months and is in severely critical condition in HaEmek Hospital in Afula, denied both visits with his wife and children and transfer to a Palestinian hospital in Ramallah. He is protesting his imprisonment without charge or trial under Israeli administrative detention, as well as his torture and abuse under interrogation. Protests have been mounting in Palestine and internationally to free him and end the policy of administrative detention as his health situation grows more dire.

Co-Operative Bank has made the news on multiple occasions in recent months for closing the accounts of Palestinian and pro-Palestine organizations in Britain. Over 20 accounts have been closed with little to no explanation, and groups throughout the UK have protested the closures.

Photos by Musheir al-Farra.

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