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21 January, Potsdam: Haft ohne Anklage (Detention without Charge): Exhibition on Administrative Detention in Israel

Thursday, 21 January
6:00 pm
Universität Potsdam – Campus Griebnitzsee, Lichthof, Haus 1
Potsdam, Germany
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1071244019575404/

Full German-language information: http://www.palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2016/01/potsdam-do-21-01-2016-haft-ohne-anklage-ausstellung-zur-administrativhaft-in-israel/

As part of Israeli policy, thousands of Palestinians have been held in administrative detention since the beginning of the Israeli occupation. In this form of detention, Palestinians are held without charge, without trial and without international law, for up to six months, renewable indefinitely. The official reason for their arrest and evidence against them is shared with neither the detainees nor their lawyers. The detention order can be renewed after expiring, also without charge, so that many administrative detainees are imprisoned for years in Israeli prisons without trial and without ever even being informed about the length of their detention.

The exhibition “Haft ohne Anklage” (Detention without Charge) was organized by Handala e.V., a student organization for Palestine in Germany and designed in collaboration with two students of political science at the University of Marburg. The exhibition looks at Israel’s practice of administrative detention, how it violates international law, and how it affects Palestinians living under occupation.

From 21 January to 10 February 2016, the exhibit will be hosted at the University of Potsdam, University of Potsdam, Griebnitzsee campus (August-Bebel-Straße 89, 14482 Potsdam, atrium, building 1) by the Israel and Palestine Working Group of Amnesty International Berlin.

The exhibition opening will be held on 21 January 2016 at 18h. Two members of Handala will speak about the origin and objectives of the exhibition.

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Im Rahmen der von Israel angewandten Praxis der Administrativhaft wurden seit Beginn der israelischen Besatzung der palästinensischen Gebiete tausende Palästinenser*innen in Haft genommen. Bei dieser Form der Haft werden Palästinenser*innen ohne Anklage, also ohne völkerrechtskonformen Prozess und ohne transparenten Urteilsspruch, für bis zu sechs Monate inhaftiert. Den offiziellen Grund für die Verhaftung und Beweise für den Tatvorwurf teilt man weder den Inhaftierten noch ihren Anwält*innen mit. Die Haftanordnung kann nach Ablauf der sechs Monate ohne Anklageerhebung verlängert werden, sodass sich viele der Administrativhäftlinge über Jahre hinweg – ohne Prozess und ohne über die Länge ihrer Haft informiert zu werden – in israelischen Gefängnissen befinden.

Die Ausstellung „Haft ohne Anklage“ wurde von Handala e.V., der Studentischen Initiative Palästinas in Deutschland (www.handalamarburg.wordpress.com), in Kooperation mit zwei Studentinnen der Politikwissenschaft von der Philipps-Universität Marburg konzipiert. Die Ausstellung beschreibt, wie Israel Administrativhaft praktiziert, inwiefern ihre Anwendung internationales Recht bricht und wie sich diese Form der Haft auf die palästinensische Bevölkerung in den besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten auswirkt.

Vom 21. Januar bis zum 10. Februar 2016 zeigt die zu Israel und Palästina arbeitende Berliner Amnesty-International-Gruppe (http://www.amnesty-1180.de/) die Ausstellung an der Universität Potsdam, Standort Griebnitzsee (August-Bebel-Straße 89, 14482 Potsdam, Lichthof, Haus 1).

Wir laden ein zur Ausstellungseröffnung am 21. Januar 2016 ab 18 Uhr. Neben Mitgliedern der Gruppe werden zwei Vertreterinnen von Handala anwesend sein, um über die Entstehung und Ziele der Ausstellung zu berichten.

27 February, United States: National Student Day of Action: Demand Obama Grant Clemency to Leonard Peltier! 

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On February 27, 2016, students across the country are calling for a National Day of Action to demand that Obama grant clemency to Leonard Peltier. Peltier is an American Indian Movement (AIM) activist and 40 year political prisoner of the United States government. We uphold that Peltier has been wrongfully charged with the murder of two FBI agents and is unjustly incarcerated.

February 27 is an historic date for the American Indian  Movement (AIM) movement. On this day in 1973 activists began a second occupation of Wounded Knee for 71 days. This was to protest the  failure of the United States to fulfill treaty obligations and the corruption of the Oglala tribal government. February 27th is now known as Wounded Knee Liberation Day.

This is the last year of Obama’s presidency, and what many activists believe to be the last chance for Peltier to be granted clemency. We call on all progressive student organizations nationally and internationally to join us by taking action to demand Peltier’s freedom!

Signed

Red Student Faction

Revolutionary Student Coordinating Committee

New York City Students For Justice in Palestine

Revolutionary Alliance of Trans People Against Capitalism

If your student organization would like to endorse the call please contact studentpeltier@gmail.com

For full information, including suggested action ideas, lists of actions and more, visit the website for the student day of action: https://peltierstudentnationalaction.wordpress.com/

To help promote and share this activity, please “like” and share the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/peltierstudentnationalaction/

Liege, 30 January: Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners

The Association Belgo-Palestinienne presents:
Four hours of solidarity with Palestinian prisoners

Saturday, 30 January 2016
2:00 pm
Espace Georges Truffaut
Avenue de Lille, 5
4020 Droixhe, Belgium
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/115868482125485/

A round table with
Sahar Francis, executive director of Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Ramallah

Jamil al-Khateeb, Palestinian lawyer

Khaled Hamad, European Coalition to support Palestinian prisoners

Marc Neve, lawyer and former vice president of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture

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26 January, Toulouse: Film screening and discussion on Georges Ibrahim Abdallah

Tuesday, 26 January
8:30 pm
Utopia, 24 rue Montardy
31000 Toulouse, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/441336089403413/

Evening discussion on the case of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and the struggle for his liberation. Abdallah has been held as a political prisoner in France for 32 years, and is today held in Lannemezan prison.

The event is organized by La clé des ondes Bordeaux, with Coup pour Coup 31, collectif Palestine libre and BDS-Toulouse.

Screening of the film “Après la guerre, c’est toujours la guerre”
followed by a discussion on Georges Abdallah, the situation and Palestine and BDS.

“Georges Ibrahim Abdallah is the oldest political prisoner in Europe,” says his lawyer, Jean Louis Chalenset. Sentenced to a life sentence for complicity in murder (his involvement in which was never proven), he was in fact sentenced for his resistance to the Israeli occupation of Lebanon.

Eligible for release since 1999, his sentence has been maintained despite several approvals of his parole applications, including refusals at the highest level of the French state.

Why is justice denied in this case?

“Après la guerre, c’est toujours la guerre” (After the war, is always war)
Documentary film, Samir Abdallah, Lebanon/France, 2008. 1 hr 20 minutes.

A travelogue shot in Lebanon during and after the 33-day war in the summer of 2006. In Beirut with an international delegation of solidarity, the director joins his friends, Lebanese journalists planning the launch of a new newspaper, Al-Akhbar, during the Israeli attack on the country. The ceasefire allows the journalists to travel to southern Lebanon at the request of Handicap International to investigate the massive number of cluster bombs dropped by Israel in the last days of the war.

Beyond destruction and smells of death, even if “after the war, is always war,” the people remain standing with a great desire to live.

The film will allow us to introduce the resistance of Georges during 1982, at the moment of the invasion of Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.

toulouse-movie

**

Soirée débat pour la libération de Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, prisonnier politique en France depuis 32 ans à Lannemezan.
Organisée par La clé des ondes Bordeaux, en partenariat avec Coup pour Coup 31, collectif Palestine libre et BDS-Toulouse.
Projection unique du Film de APRES LA GUERRE C’EST TOUJOURS LA GUERRE
Suivi d’un débat sur Georges Abdallah, la situation en Palestine et la campagne BDS.
« Georges Ibrahim Abdallah est le plus vieux prisonnier politique en Europe » dixit son avocat Jean Louis Chalenset. Condamné à Perpétuité pour complicité d’assassinat (sa participation n’a jamais pu être prouvé) en fait, pour sa résistance à l’occupation Israélienne du Liban.

Libérable depuis 1999, sa peine a été maintenue sans jamais lui faire bénéficier des mesures de libération conditionnelle. Malgré ses multitudes demandes, le pouvoir a toujours refusé. Enfin en 2012 le tribunal d’application des peines lui a accordé en première instance et en appel une libération qui doit être suivie de la signature d’un arrêté d’expulsion du ministre de l’intérieur.

Par un subterfuge juridique, la cassation a cassé l’appel sous prétexte que le ministre n’a pas signé l’arrêté et que monsieur Abdallah doit faire de la probation. En général les étrangers sont expulsés à leur libération sauf pour lui. Les pressions extérieures sur le gouvernement et ces refus non justifiés font de lui un prisonnier politique qui est en détention administrative. Pourquoi ce déni de justice?

APRES LA GUERRE, C’EST TOUJOURS LA GUERRE.

Film Documentaire de Samir Abdallah Liban/France 2008, 1h20 VOSTF

Un carnet de route tourné au Liban pendant et après la guerre de 33 jours de l’été 2006. Parti pour Beyrouth avec une délégation internationale de solidarité, le réalisateur rejoint ses amis journalistes libanais qui vont lancer un nouveau journal, Al Akhbar (Les Nouvelles) pendant le siège israélien du pays. Le cessez le feu permet aux journalistes de se rendre dans le sud pour, à la demande de Handicap International, mener une enquête sur les bombes à sous munitions qu’Israël a larguées par millions dans les derniers jours de la guerre… Au delà des destructions et des odeurs de la mort, et même si « après la guerre c’est toujours la guerre », le peuple reste debout et tient avec une formidable désir de vivre.

Ce film nous permettra d’introduire la résistance de Georges dans les années 82 au moment de l’envahissement du Liban par Israël.

Gaza press conference highlights cases of hunger striker Al-Qeeq, Omar Nayef Zayed

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The Prisoners’ Commission of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces held a press conference on 12 January in front of the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza City, addressing two key issues for Palestinian prisoners today: the critical health condition of hunger-striking journalist Mohammed Al-Qeeq and the struggle for justice of former prisoner Omar Nayef Zayed in Bulgaria, who has taken asylum against an Israeli extradition request in the Palestinian embassy in Sofia.

Bulgarian officials are seeking to arrest Zayed at the behest of an Israeli extradition request; he escaped Israeli prison in 1990 after a 40-day hunger strike and subsequent hospitalization. Allam Kaabi, a former prisoner released in 2011 as part of the Wafa al-Ahrar prisoner exchange, spoke at the event, focusing on Zayed’s case, stating that “his case is a struggle and a political issue for the Palestinian national movement. It is about the rights of our people an their legitimate struggle against the occupation.”

He noted that Zayed is under a very serious threat that would create a dangerous precedent for Palestinians in Europe, especially former political prisoners who reside in European countries and cities. “He is not a criminal on the run from law or justice, but a struggler to defend his people,” said Kaabi. He urged the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria to commit to providing the highest level of protection for Zayed as their duty and responsibility. “Palestinian embassies around the world are the property of the Palestinian people, and their foremost responsibility is to serve and provide care for our people, wherever they are.”

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He emphasized that this is not an individual issue but a collective issue of political, national and human rights, noting that the prisoners’ movement rejects any attempt to deal with Palestinian political prisoners as a matter of “criminal law,” and will spare no efforts to protect Zayed.

Kaabi also saluted the efforts of international campaigners working to support Zayed, as well as the Palestinian and international campaign in solidarity with Zayed and the work of Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network in organizing events and actions to highlight Zayed’s case in Europe and on an international level. He urged all friends of Palestine and supporters of human rights around the world and especially in Bulgaria and Europe as a whole, to exercise political and media pressure to protect Zayed and prevent his extradition.

Ahmad Herzallah, a former Palestinian political prisoner, spoke at the press conference on the case of imprisoned journalist and hunger striker Mohammed al-Qeeq, emphasizing that he has been on hunger strike for nearly 50 days and is facing a severe health crisis and being threatened with force feeding. Herzallah declared that, as in the cases of Khader Adnan and Muhammad Allan, his will would prevail over that of the jailer.

He urged greater action on Palestinian, Arab and international levels to highlight Al-Qeeq’s struggle and build solidarity for his strike, and to expose the violations of the rights of Palestinian prisoners carried out by the Israeli occupation. In particular, Herzallah urged action on the issue of administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial, under which Al-Qeeq is held. He urged broad participation in the solidarity tent that will be erected in front of the ICRC office on Wednesday in support of Al-Qeeq.

Palestinians protest European Union headquarters in Ramallah for justice for Omar Nayef Zayed

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Palestinians in Ramallah gathered for a sit-in outside the headquarters of the European Union on 11 January, in solidarity with former political prisoner Omar Nayef Zayed, now being pursued for extradition from Bulgaria by the Israeli state.

The protest came as part of an international week of action in solidarity with Zayed, with actions in Gaza, New York, London, Brussels, Berlin and elsewhere. The protests are united in demanding the Bulgarian government reject the extradition request against Zayed, who has taken refuge in the Palestinian embassy in Sofia. He has lived in Bulgaria for the past 22 years. His wife Rania and three children are Bulgarian citizens. Zayed escaped Israeli imprisonment in 1990 after a 40-day hunger strike.

The protesters, who included former long-term hunger striker, Palestinian lawyer Muhammad Allan, emphasized their rejection of the ongoing Israeli persecution of Palestinian strugglers, and denounced the actions against Zayed as an attempt to label the Palestinian movement as “terrorist” and “criminal.” They expressed their solidarity with his case as a Palestinian national political issue, and called on Bulgaria – and the European Union as a whole – to reject this extradition attempt by the Israeli occupation.

Omar Shehadeh of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine spoke at the rally, saying that if Bulgaria turns over Zayed to the occupation, it would set a dangerous precedent for the ongoing pursuit of Palestinians outside Palestine under the pretext of “terrorism.” He emphasized that Zayed is not a criminal, but a struggler for Palestine.

Khitam Saafin, chair of the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, emphasized the responsibility of the Palestine Liberation Organization to provide full protection for Omar Nayef Zayed and his family. She denounced the actions of the Bulgarian authorities, including raiding Zayed’s home, in this case, saying that extraditing Zayed would make Bulgaria a partner in the crimes of the occupation against the Palestinian people.

Photos and reporting contributed by Reham Alhelsi of A Voice from Palestine.

Berlin protest outside Bulgarian embassy stands in solidarity with Omar Nayef Zayed, Palestinian prisoners

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The Democratic Palestine Committees in Berlin organized a protest on 11 January in front of the Bulgarian embassy to Germany in solidarity with Omar Nayef Zayed, former Palestinian political prisoner threatened with extradition from Bulgaria to Israel. They delivered a letter to the Bulgarian embassy calling on the Bulgarian government to reject the Israeli extradition request and defend Zayed’s rights.

The protest came as part of the Week of Action for Omar Nayef Zayed, with events taking place in London, New York, Brussels, Ramallah, Gaza and other cities in support of Zayed’s case and struggle for justice. He has currently taken refuge inside the Palestinian Embassy in Sofia.

Protest organizers emphasized that Zayed’s case is of extreme importance to the Palestinian and Arab communities in Europe, and especially former prisoners and veterans of the Palestinian struggle, with the potential for a dangerous precedent undermining the rights and status of Palestinians in Europe. They noted that Zayed’s case is a political case of a struggler for freedom for Palestine, and demanded that Bulgaria reject the demands to turn Zayed over to an occupying power for further torture and imprisonment. Zayed has lived in Bulgaria for 22 years after escaping Israeli confinement in 1990 after a 40-day hunger strike.

Events and actions in solidarity with Zayed are being organized in cities around the world and will continue in Berlin. German translations are available of key calls to action for Omar Nayef Zayed via Palästina Solidarität:

http://www.palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2015/12/take-action-omar-nayef-zayed-wird-gedraengt-die-palaestinensische-botschaft-zu-verlassen/

http://www.palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2016/01/8-15-januar-2016-globale-aktionswoche-gerechtigkeit-fuer-omar-nayef-zayed/

London protest demands “Justice for Omar Nayef Zayed!” and justice for Palestine

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Inminds and its Palestinian Prisoner Support Campaign organized a protest in London on 8 January against the attempts to extradite former Palestinian prisoner Omar Nayef Zayed from Bulgaria to Israel, visiting the Bulgarian embassy and the Palestinian embassy in London. Zayed is currently taking refuge inside the Palestinian embassy in Sofia.

The London protest kicked off a week of action for Zayed, including events in New York City, Berlin, Brussels, Ramallah, Gaza and elsewhere calling for the Bulgarian government to reject the extradition request against Zayed, who has lived in Bulgaria for 22 years. His wife and children are Bulgarian citizens and he is a well-known member of the Palestinian community in Sofia.

Protesters visited the Bulgarian embassy, spoke and distributed information and carried large banners and signs with Omar’s face and information about his case. They delivered a letter of protest to the Bulgarian ambassador, calling upon Bulgaria to defend Omar and stop all attempts to prosecute or extradite him.

They then traveled to the Palestinian embassy in London in order to support his sanctuary in the Palestinian embassy and urge the Palestinian Authority to do its utmost to defend Omar, especially following various incidents in which PA officials have pressured him to leave the embassy. They spoke with Ambassador Manuel Hassassian, who joined the protesters and expressed his support for Omar Zayed, emphasizing that Palestinian officials must work actively in the international arena to defend Omar and ensure his safety and that he will not be put in danger.

Video:

Photos:

New York City protest demands #FreeAhmadManasrah, end to G4S abuses against Palestinians

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Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network organized a protest on 8 January in New York City outside the offices of British-Danish security corporation G4S, which provides control rooms and security equipment to Israeli prisons, checkpoints and police training centers. Samidoun is part of an international movement demanding that G4S end its complicity in the torture and occupation of Palestinians and that the United Nations and other institutions stop doing business with this human rights abusing corporation.

Press TV visited the demonstration as part of its coverage of the repressive actions against New Jersey student Bethany Koval by her high school administration to interview demonstrators:

This week’s protest focused on the campaign to #FreeAhmadManasrah. Manasrah, 13, is a child prisoner whose videotaped abusive interrogation and ramming by Israeli police was seen around the world. There is a growing international campaign for his release and for the release of all child prisoners in Israeli jails. As reports indicate that the majority of Palestinians arrested in 2015 in East Jerusalem are minors, the imprisonment of Palestinian children and their trials before military courts that convict 99.74% of Palestinians who come before them is a pressing issue of concern.

The international campaign has included weekly social media protests as well as protests and letters to international agencies urging their action.

Photos by Baa Parra and DocR0cket. See also Jesse Rubin’s report on the protest here: http://ahtribune.com/human-rights/358-i-will-not-support-the-killing-of-a-people.html

15 January, NYC: Emergency protest to demand justice for Omar Nayef Zayed

Friday, 15 January
4:00 pm
Bulgarian Mission to the United Nations – 11 E 84th St, NYC
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1120440681314044/
Organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network

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Omar Nayef Zayed, Palestinian former prisoner and community leader, is being threatened with extradition from Bulgaria and return to Israeli prisons. After 22 years living in Bulgaria, raising three children with his wife, the Israeli state has requested that Bulgaria extradite Omar – who was sentenced to a life sentence in Israeli military courts in 1986, escaping from custody in 1990 after a 40-day hunger strike, and arrived in Bulgaria in 1994. Join us as part of a global week of action for justice for Omar Nayef Zayed!

Israel has requested Omar’s arrest and extradition from the Bulgarian government under the European Convention on Extradition, to which both states are parties. However, the Convention explicitly excludes “political offenses” from such extradition proceedings – and Omar’s case, tried in Israeli military courtswhich convict 99.74% of Palestinians, is, like that of all other Palestinian prisoners, a political matter of the struggle for freedom of the Palestinian people, not a “criminal offense.” Indeed, Palestinian prisoners jailed at the same time as Omar have nearly all been freed – not due to their sentences ending, but due to a series of political agreements and exchanges between the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Israeli state – further underlining the political nature of the imprisonment of Palestinians. Sinn Fein parliamentarians from Ireland have urged Bulgaria to reject the extradition request on this basis.

Despite a raid on his home, Omar has taken refuge in the Palestinian embassy in Sofia. He is demanding to stay with his wife and family in Bulgaria, and calling on the Bulgarian government to reject the extradition request. “I must carry on this struggle, on behalf of all Palestinian prisoners, not just myself. It is my responsibility,” Omar said. Indeed, his case has significant repercussions for Palestinians in Europe generally, especially former prisoners and veterans of the struggle.

Please take action to help demand justice for Omar Nayef Zayed!