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Monday, April 28, 2025
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Palestinian teen Dima Sawahreh released from prison, held under house arrest

dima sawahrehPalestinian prisoner Dima Sawahreh, 18, from Jabal al-Mukaber neighborhood in Jerusalem, was released after 20 months imprisonment on 11 September, but will spend the next four months under house arrest.

Sawahreh was arrested on 3 January 2014 at the age of 16. She was held for six months in a juvenile detention center in Akka because of her young age, then transferred to Ramla prison for 19 days in isolation, after which she was transferred to Hasharon prison with the other women prisoners. During her captivity, her brother died; she was denied permission to phone her parents.

She is prohibited from leaving her home between 8 pm and 6 am and must visit the Israeli occupation forces every two weeks to prove she has not left the borders of Jerusalem.

There are 25 women prisoners remaining in Hasharon prison, to which global security corporation G4S provides a central control room and security system. There is a global call for boycott of G4S, who are complicit not only in the torture and political imprisonment of Palestinians but in the abuse of migrants and refugees, Indigenous people and workers in countries around the world, including the US, Canada, the UK and Australia.

Palestinian activists: Beit Hanoun/Erez crossing a “trap” of Israeli occupation

The Erez/Beit Hanoun crossing to Gaza is becoming a trap by the Israeli occupation to imprison Palestinians from Gaza, said Riyad Al-Ashqar of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Center for Studies, noting that arrests at the crossing are escalating once again.

In the beginning of 2015, 19 merchants seeking to trade and do business through the crossing were arrested; while the arrests then declined from May to July, said Ashqar, in August, 6 merchants, 2 international organization staff members, 2 patients traveling for treatment and one teacher were arrested at the crossing. With the ongoing siege on Gaza and the closure of Rafah crossing the vast majority of the time, Palestinians in Gaza are forced to seek treatment and trade through this crossing.

In order to pass through the crossing, Palestinians from Gaza must receive pre-approved permits from the Israeli occupation forces. In all of these cases, people traveled through the crossing with permits, only to be arrested after crossing and taken to interrogation and imprisonment.

Rabie Mustafa Almalakha works for Mercy Corps International; he was arrested without charge. Alaa Abdelkader Mohammed Bashir, 28, from Deir al-Balah, works in the United Nations Development Program. Travelling with colleagues to Ramallah for a UN training program, he was taken, interrogated for hours and then returned to Gaza without being allowed to pass.

Kamal Zaqout, 46, from Sheikh Radwan, had permits to travel for business (he sells electrical products) and was arrested after passing through the crossing. Tamer Boraim, 36, from Bani Suhaila east of Khan Younis; Sami Tabash, 52; Wael Odeh; Ziad Qatanana, all from Shujaiya neighborhood, were also arrested after receiving permits to travel for business, as was Muhammad Lutfi Shalfouh.

Ibrahim Adel Shaer, 20, a Palestinian throat cancer patient from Rafah in the Gaza Strip, was arrested at the crossing where he had received a permit to travel to Al-Khalil in the West Bank for further treatment. However, he was arrested by Israeli occupation, his father – who accompanied him – sent back to Gaza, while he was imprisoned in Asqelan prison. Fawzi Jaoudat Abdel-Al, 22, was similarly arrested as he traveled for medical treatment to occupied Jerusalem.

Teacher Ihab Abu Nahala, 27, from Gaza City, was traveling to Qatar where he had a contract to work as a teacher. He was arrested and accused of participation in the Palestinian resistance.

Ashqar said that the occupation forces are using the Beit Hanoun/Erez crossing as a trap to capture those it has declared “wanted,” urging international action and advocacy against these arrests but also to end the siege on Gaza and open Rafah crossing so that Palestinians from Gaza will be freed from this trap

Alert for Mumia Abu-Jamal: Mumia Faces Retaliatory Transfer, Denied Hepatitis C Cure

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Movement urges action to support Mumia Abu-Jamal, US political prisoner of the Black Liberation Movement. Abu-Jamal is a revolutionary journalist and former Minister of Information for the Philadelphia Black Panthers; he has been wrongfully imprisoned for over 32 years, 30 of them on Death Row. Throughout that time, he has continued to write and share his voice and vision with revolutionary movements in the US and around the world. He is one of the signatories of the “Black For Palestine” statement, with 10 other Black Liberation political prisoners in US jails.

Mumia is now facing retaliatory transfer – also a common method of punishment against Palestinian leaders and strugglers in Israeli jails. He is also being denied medical care – again, an experience of Palestinian political prisoners that has led to death on multiple occasions. The US and the State of Pennsylvania are responsible for Mumia’s life and health, which is currently in severe danger.  As Johanna Fernandes notes, “The denial of the Hepatitis C cure to Mumia –while his medical condition remains precarious and while his disfiguring skin condition continues to cause him unthinkable suffering –is cruel and unusual punishment, and torture through medical neglect.”

Free Mumia Abu-Jamal! Stop Retaliatory Transfer, Full Medical Treatment Now!

 MUMIA FACES RETALIATORY TRANSFER

September 7, 2015. Two days ago, prison staff boxed-up all Mumia’s personal effects from his cell while he was in the prison infirmary trying to recover from the prison’s medical malfeasance and neglect that nearly killed him. The handling of prison property in the absence of a prisoner is a violation of prison procedures. After signing the forms required when prisoner property is placed in storage, Mumia asked if he was about to be moved to a different facility, since the boxing up of a prisoner’s property usually precedes a transfer. An officer assured him that he would not be transferred; but this all seemed really strange to Mumia.

A retaliatory transfer to some other prison would be a new blow against Mumia’s health, and would steep him and his family in greater fear and uncertainty.

Why do we sense retaliation? Because Mumia’s attorneys have filed a lawsuit charging the PA Department of Corrections with medical neglect, i.e. with failure to diagnose his disease in a timely way and with continuing to deny him adequate treatment of his debilitating and life-threatening Hepatitis C condition. The PA Department of Corrections was set to respond to the lawsuit this Thursday in court. A transfer to another prison, without giving him fully professional healthcare, would be retaliatory. Indeed it would be an attack Mumia, another way for his enemies to see him dead.We must stop any retaliatory transfer. No transfer of Mumia should take place that does not take him to a quality medical center for cure of his very serious, but treatable, Hepatitis C condition. Keep up the fight for Mumia’s life!

CALL the PA Department of Corrections and Mumia’s prison – starting now. Here’s the message:

Stop Any Retaliatory Transfer!

Treat-to-Cure Mumia’s Hepatitis C Now!

Phone in both of these demands to –

John Wetzel, Secretary of Corrections, Pennsylvania

Phone: (717) 728-2573

John Kerestes, Superintendent, SCI-Mahanoy prison

Phone: (570) 773-2158

**

Mumia’s lawyers on the denial of medical care:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/medical-crisis-of-political-prisoner-mumia-abu-jamal/5475205

The following is a summary of the medical issues currently confronting Mumia Abu-Jamal, now a prisoner at SCI Mahanoy in Pennsylvania. A detailed presentation of his issues is contained in the papers filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in the case of Abu-Jamal v. Kerestes and will be made available upon request.

Mumia Abu Jamal is suffering from “active” hepatitis C, a serious liver disease. Tests performed over the last several months show that Mr. Abu-Jamal’s liver likely has “significant fibrosis” (scarring) and deteriorated function. The disease has also manifested itself in other ways. He has a persistent, painful skin rash over most of his body.

Our consulting physician, who visited Mr. Abu-Jamal has concluded that it is likely a disease known as necrolytic acral erythma, a condition that is almost always associated with an untreated hepatitis C infection. Mr. Abu-Jamal has been diagnosed with “anemia of chronic disease”, another common consequence of hepatitis C. He has sudden-onset adult diabetes, a complication that led to an episode of diabetic shock on March 30, 2015. Most recently, he has begun to lose weight again.

Mr. Abu Jamal’s hepatitis C can be cured – and the painful and dangerous consequences alleviated– if the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) would administer the direct acting anti-viral medication that has now become the standard for treatment for hepatitis C infections.

According to the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), this hepatitis C treatment “results in sustained virologic response (SVR) which is tantamount to virologic cure”. The AASLD protocol has been adopted by the United States Bureau of Prisons.

Under that protocol, Mr. Abu-Jamal is a candidate for immediate treatment

The DOC has known of Mr. Abu-Jamal’s hepatitis C infection since 2012- but never conducted a complete hepatitis C workup until recently. His skin condition, which had been intermittent for several years, worsened and became constant in August 2014. His health had deteriorated to such an extent that he was admitted to the hospital in May 2015. Over those eight days numerous tests were conducted that ruled out many conditions, including some cancers.

Those tests led the doctors to conclude that the symptoms were likely caused by the hepatitis C. In June 2015, after Mr. Abu-Jamal’s release from the hospital, his attorneys demanded that a complete hepatitis C workup be conducted and treatment administered. But it took several weeks for those simple blood tests to be taken.

They concluded that Mr. Abu-Jamal does, in fact, have an active hepatitis C infection. Notwithstanding that determination, and Mr. Abu-Jamal’s continued suffering and deteriorated health, he has not been given the anti-viral drugs.

As our consulting expert had concluded, “failure to treat Mr. Abu-Jamal’s hepatitis C will result in serious harm to his health, as his current-hepatic symptoms will not be cured, and he faces an increasingly serious risk of suffering from fibrosis and cirrhosis, liver cancer, complications of his diabetes, and eventual death.”

A motion for an injunction seeking treatment is pending in federal court.

However, the treatment, as our medical expert has stated, should begin “immediately”.

Given the overwhelming and undisputed evidence that Mr. Abu-Jamal is suffering from an active infection, treatment should not await a determination by the court. It must begin now.

**

http://bringmumiahome.com

AN URGENT MESSAGE:

Competent Medical Care, Not Transfer

Administer the Hepatitis C cure to Mumia & the 10,000 PA Prisoners with the disease, NOW!

September 7, 2015

At the urging of Pam Africa, I visited Mumia yesterday, Sunday, September 6. Pam got word from inside that Mumia’s cell had been raided by prison authorities. 

As you know, after a series of hospitalizations in March and April 2015, Mumia has remained in the prison infirmary. During this time, most of his property has remained in his old cell.  According to Mumia, on Friday, September 4, officers rushed him out of his regularly-scheduled medical bath to inform him that all the belongings in his cell had been packed up and placed in storage. The handling of prison property in the absence of a prisoner is a violation of prison procedures. After signing the forms required when prisoner property is placed in storage, Mumia asked if he was about to be moved to a different facility, since the boxing up of a prisoner’s property usually precedes a transfer. An officer assured him that he would not be transferred; but this all seemed really strange to Mumia.

These developments follow the immediate aftermath of a medical lawsuit filed by Mumia charging the DOC with medical neglect. Coming at this moment, a prison transfer would not be in Mumia’s best interest as it would disrupt contact with his attorneys and isolate him from his family and supporters. In addition, a move would put Mumia’s at risk; it would further compromise his physical and mental health and interrupt his medical care. The only transfer acceptable would be safe transit to a professional facility that would guarantee the medical attention he needs for a cure of his “active” Hepatitis C condition, for which there is a cure.

As you know, Mumia has been in an acute health crisis for over 9 months, since January 2015. In March 2015, prison infirmary physicians allowed Mumia to fall into diabetic shock and come close to death.

Please urge the PA Department of Corrections (DOC) to act in Mumia’s best interests and refrain from transferring him. Please also urge the DOC to give Mumia, and the 10,000 PA Prisoners with Hepatitis C, the cure he needs.

Recently, Mumia has lost approximately 25lbs in two months. Although his spirits are high and his cognitive abilities have improved, he still sleeps all day and is suffering extreme lethargy, a bi-product of untreated, “active” Hepatitis C, a liver disease. The skin around his face is clearer than before and although his leg wounds have closed, they have left crater-like scars, which can erupt at any moment. The skin throughout his body remains jet-black, raw, extremely wrinkled, and rough, like elephant hide. Nails on his hands and feet are falling off and the palms of his hands are blackened. These conditions are also symptoms of his untreated, “active” Hepatitis C.

The denial of the Hepatitis C cure to Mumia –while his medical condition remains precarious and while his disfiguring skin condition continues to cause him unthinkable suffering –is cruel and unusual punishment, and torture through medical neglect.

Demand the Hepatitis C cure for Mumia and for the 10,000 PA Prisoners with the disease, NOW!

John Wetzel, Secretary of Corrections, Pennsylvania Phone: (717) 728-2573

John Kerestes, Superintendent, SCI-Mahanoy prison: Phone: (570) 773-2158

love and solidarity,

Johanna Fernandez

for Pam Africa and the Movement to Free Mumia &

the Campaign to Bring Mumia Home

71st birthday of US Indigenous political prisoner Leonard Peltier: Freedom Now!

 Leonard Peltier, an Indigenous elder, has been held as a political prisoner in U.S. jails for 40 years; September 12 is his 71st birthday.  A leading member of the American Indian Movement at the time, in 1977, Leonard Peltier was wrongfully convicted for the murders of 2 FBI Agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  The occupation of Wounded Knee and the US government’s “reign of terror” over the reservation  led to an incident on June 26, 1975, in which three men were killed: two F.B.I. Agents; Jack Coler and Ron Williams as well as a young Indigenous man, Joe Stuntz Killsight. “The use of  constitutional violations, witness coercions, evidence tampering, and a myriad other violations of justice put Leonard in prison and have kept him there for almost 40 years,” said his defense committee.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network stands in solidarity with and calls for freedom for Leonard Peltier and all political prisoners in US jails. We particularly note the struggle of Leonard Peltier and his resistance to settler colonialism on Indigenous land, a just struggle which is reflected as well in Palestinian resistance today, and the ongoing and unceasing resistance of Indigenous people to Canadian, US, Australian, New Zealander and other settler colonial projects. Free Leonard Peltier!

We salute Leonard Peltier and his fellow Indigenous strugglers on his 71st birthday and encourage all to participate in events and activities marking this anniversary. We redistribute the following alert from the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee.

Month of Global Action

September 2015 is the Month of Global Action for ‪Leonard Peltier‬! Take part. Anything you do in September will be amplified and every day counts!

Call President Obama for Leonard Peltier: 202-456-1111; email President Obama:http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments; send a tweet to President Obama: @POTUS @WhiteHouse; AND write a letter: President Barack Obama, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500.

Birthday Greetings

Don’t forget to send a birthday card or letter to Leonard Peltier before September 12th:

Leonard Peltier #89637-132
USP Coleman I
P.O. Box 1033
Coleman, FL 33521

Calendar of Events

Are you hosting an event? Let us know. Share press, photos, social network posts, etc., with us (contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info). Calendar updates will be posted to www.whoisleonardpeltier.info.

Not everyone can host an event, but there are easy things you can do in your home or community. Here are some ideas.

The “Battle of Breaking the Chains”: Towards the Freedom of Palestine and Palestinians by Reham Alhelsi

The following article, by Palestinian writer Reham Alhelsi, is republished here from her blog, A Voice from Palestine. The original article may be found here:  https://avoicefrompalestine.wordpress.com/2015/09/06/the-battle-of-breaking-the-chains-towards-the-freedom-of-palestine-and-palestinians/

Nidal, Shadi, Ghassan, Bader, Munir, Sleiman, Bilal, Amer and Kayed

9 Palestinian political prisoners on hunger strike, refusing to eat, refusing to surrender. 9 Palestinian heroes held captive in Zionist dungeons, breaking the walls of captivity, defying their jailor, protesting their illegal and inhumane detention. 9 Palestinian freedom fighters; their only weapon their strong will and the belief in their just cause, their only weapon their empty stomachs steadfast in the face of torture, intimidation and force-feeding. Hunger strikes have always been a legitimate and effective weapon of protest and struggle used by Palestinian political prisoners and detainees in the face of injustice. Whether mass hunger strikes that sweep Israeli jails or single hunger strikes that last for months; Palestinian freedom fighters continue to resist the occupation from behind Zionist bars and isolation cells. Their battle against their jailors, against the policy of administrative detention, against the sham courts of the occupation, is the “Battle of Breaking the Chains”; an on-going battle till all Zionist jails are empty, an on-going battle till Palestine is free from the River to the Sea. It is a battle to break the chains of all Palestinians held in Zionist captivity; those held captive in small jails and those held captive in the bigger jails defined by the infamous Oslo Accords, it is a battle against injustice, a battle towards the freedom of all of us.

Nidal, Shadi, Ghassan, Bader, Munir, Sleiman, Bilal, Amer and Kayed

9 Palestinian political prisoners held captive by the Zionist entity along with the around 500 Palestinian political prisoners currently detained without charge or trial; The Israeli occupation resorts to administrative detention and so-called secret files, prepared by the Israeli intelligence and used against Palestinian prisoners when Israeli interrogators fail to force confessions out of Palestinians detainees and when the prosecution is unable to prove the charge on the detainee. Administrative detention is a procedure that allows the Israeli military to hold prisoners indefinitely on secret evidence without charging them or allowing them to stand trial. The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) uses administrative detention as prolonged detention, and in some cases Palestinian detainees are held captive without charge or trial for 5 or even 10 years. On 20.08.2015, Nidal, Shadi, Ghassan, Bader, Munir started an open hunger strike to protest the renewal of their captivity without charge or trial and to protest the policy of administrative detention. They stopped consuming food, and are facing the brutality and illegality of their detention with their empty stomachs. Additionally, they announced their boycott of all Israeli occupation courts, being nothing but sham courts, along with another 50 administrative detainees, and in protest of the so-called secret files. As a punishment, the IPS transferred the hunger strikers to isolation cells. The detainees gave the IPS an ultimatum till 01.09.2015 to end their administrative detention, otherwise they will stop consuming liquids and medicines.

Since 1967, the Zionist entity held more than 850,000 Palestinian men, women and children captive, including thousands of Palestinians held in administrative detention, for periods ranging from months to years. According to the latest statistics from Palestinian human rights organizations and prisoner support sites, there are currently over 6000 Palestinian political prisoners held captive in 22 Israeli jails and detention centres, including 160 children, 26 women, and more than 1600 prisoners suffering from various diseases, and 30 prisoners detained since before the Oslo agreement. Additionally, around 500 Palestinians are held in administrative detention in several Israeli prisons, including Ofer, Megiddo and Al-Naqab. These detainees are held without charge or trial, and often their detention is extended in the final minutes of their captivity, which increases their suffering and that of their families. Among the around 500 administrative detainees, there are 3 PLC members. Alone in August 2015, 390 cases of detention were registered in comparison to 330 in July 2015. Among the 390 detained in August, 85 were children – mostly from occupied Jerusalem, 15 were women, and geographically; 155 from occupied Jerusalem, 70 from occupied Hebron, 50 from occupied Bethlehem and 15 from besieged Gaza. Additionally, in August 2015, 94 new administrative detention orders were issued in comparison to 63 in July 2015.

Currently, the following Palestinian detainees are on hunger strike protesting their detention without charge or trial:

Nidal Abu Aker © google images

1. Nidal Abu Aker: 47 years old from Ras Abu Ammar, temporarily resident of Dheisheh refugee camp, on day 18 of an open hunger strike.
Nidal was born on 10.05.1968 in Dheisheh refugee camp to a family expelled from Ras Abu Ammar village in occupied Jerusalem by Zionist terrorist gangs in 1948. He is a father of 3 children, and has a BA in Sociology from Bethlehem University. Nidal works as a journalist and hosts a program titled “In their Cells” on Sawt al Wihdeh Radio station in Bethlehem, which tackles the issues of Palestinian political prisoners. He also works as a Hebrew translator, and is among the founders of the “Families of Prisoners Association” in Dheisheh. Since a young age, Nidal, as the rest of his family members, resisted the occupation. From a total of 15 years in Israeli captivity, he spent 9 years in administrative detention. Nidal was detained for the first time in 1984, still a child at the age of 13, and was accused of throwing stones. His home was raided by Israeli occupation soldiers on the dawn of 28.06.2014; he and his son Mohammad were beaten, and his home ransacked. Since then, he’d been held in administrative detention without any charge or trial, whereby his administrative detention order was renewed several times: in a hearing on 14.01.2015, his administrative detention order was confirmed under the pretext of being “a threat to security” without the prosecutor presenting any substantial evidence. On 20.08.2015, Nidal and his comrades started an open hunger strike to protest their administrative detention and their captivity on the basis on so-called secret files. As punishment, the IPS transferred him to isolation cells in ‘Asqalan prison to pressure him to end his strike. It is worth noting that Nidal suffers from various health problems, including blood pressure, weakness of the heart muscle, ulcer, acute rheumatic and haemorrhoids.

Shadi Maali © google images

2. Shadi Ma’ali: 39 years old from Al-Jorah, temporarily resident of Dheisheh refugee camp, on day 18 of an open hunger strike.
Shadi was born in Dheisheh refugee camp to a family expelled from Al-Jorah village in occupied Jerusalem by Zionist terrorist gangs in 1948. He is a father of 5 children. A long-time activist against the occupation, he was held captive several times for resisting the occupation by both the Israeli occupation forces and the “PA security forces”, spending a total of 12 years in Israeli captivity and around 2 years in “PA” jails. He was tortured by both during interrogation. During the First Intifada, Shadi was only 16 years old when he was detained for the first time by the occupation and was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. Shadi was released from Israeli captivity in February 2014 after spending 22 months in jails. On 28.06.2014, Israeli occupation forces raided and ransacked his home before detaining him. He has been since held in administrative detention, which was renewed 3 consecutive times for 6 months each. On 20.08.2015, Shadi and his comrades started an open hunger strike to protest their administrative detention and their captivity on the basis on so-called secret files. As punishment, the IPS transferred him to isolation cells in Ela prison to pressure him to end his strike. Shadi participated in various hunger strike while in Israeli captivity, including the Karameh mass hunger strike in 2012 and the 2013 hunger strike. Shadi suffers from chronic ulcer in addition to the weakness of the cornea.

Ghassan Zawahreh © google images

3. Ghassan Zawahreh: 34 years, temporarily resident of Dheisheh refugee camp, on day 18 of an open hunger strike.
Ghassan was born in Dheisheh refugee camp to a family expelled from its original village by Zionist terrorist gangs in 1948. Ghassan is a former prisoner and was detained several times by the Israeli occupation forces, spending a total of 10 years in Israeli captivity, including 3 years in administration detention. He was beaten during his various arrests, leading to injuries in his right hand, his left leg and knee, for which he was denied treatment. In 2008, Ghassan was a student of Social Work in his final year at Al-Quds Open University when he was detailed by the Israeli occupation forces, after which he was prevented from completing his studies due to his multiple arrests. Ghassan is a long-time activists and works as a taxi driver. He was detained on 08.04.2015 at a flying checkpoint in Bethlehem, and has since been held in administrative detention, which was renewed 3 times for 4 months each. On 20.08.2015, Ghassan and his comrades started an open hunger strike to protest their administrative detention and their captivity on the basis on so-called secret files. As punishment, the IPS transferred him to isolation cells in Eshel prison to pressure him to end his strike. On 04.09.2015, Ghassan stopped consuming any liquids or medicine. Ghassan suffers from ulcers and arthritis

Munir Abu Sharar © google images

4. Munir Abu Sharar: 31 years old from Dura, Hebron, on day 18 of an open hunger strike.
Munir was born in Dura, Hebron. He is the only son to his parents. Munir is an activist, a former prisoner and was detained several times by the Israeli occupation forces. Munir is an employee at the Hebron municipality. On 24.07.2014, Israeli occupation forces detained Munir, and since then he’s been held in administrative detention without charge or trial. His detention order was renewed several times, totalling 14 months. On 20.08.2015, Munir and his comrades started an open hunger strike to protest their administrative detention and their captivity on the basis on so-called secret files. As punishment, the IPS transferred him to isolation cells in Naqab prison to pressure him to end his strike.

Bader Al-Ruzzeh © google images

5. Bader Al-Ruzzeh: 26 years old from Nablus, on day 18 of an open hunger strike.
Bader was born in Al-Yasminah neighborhood in Nablus. He is the nephew of martyred leader Ayman Al-Ruzzeh. Bader was detained on 13.05.2014 by Israeli occupation forces, and after interrogation was send to administrative detention without charge or trial. His administrative detention order has been since renewed twice. On 20.08.2015, Badir and his comrades started an open hunger strike to protest their administrative detention and their captivity on the basis on so-called secret files. As punishment, the IPS transferred him to isolation cells in Naqab prison to pressure him to end his hunger strike. It is worth mentioning that Bader suffers from asthma.

Bilal As-Seifi © google images

6. Bilal As-Seifi: 26 years old, temporarily resident of Dheisheh refugee camp, on day 11 of an open hunger strike.
Bilal was born in Dheisheh refugee camp to a family expelled from its original village by Zionist terrorist gangs in 1948. He has been held captive in administrative detention since 01.03.2015, which was renewed twice for six months. On 27.08.2015, Bilal started an open hunger strike to protest his administrative detention and his captivity on the basis on so-called secret files. As punishment, the IPS transferred him to isolation cells in Naqab prison to pressure him to end his strike.

Sleiman Skafi © google images

7. Sleiman Skafi: 30 years old from Hebron, on day 6 of an open hunger strike.
Sleiman was born in Hebron. He is a former prisoner, and was detained 5 times. Sleiman spent a total of 6 years in Israeli captivity. During interrogation, Sleiman was subjected to torture, which resulted in chronic pains in his back and legs, in addition to other health issues. He was denied the needed medical follow-up and treatment. Sleiman has been held captive without charge or trial since 12.11.2014 on the pretext of a secret file that claims he is “a security threat”. Sleiman’s appeal against his administrative detention was refusal by Israeli military courts. In August 2015, Sleiman went on a 2-day warning hunger strike to pressure the IPS to consider the issue of the systematic medical negligence against him and the continuation of his administrative detention without charge. He ended his strike after promises from the IPS to look into his demands and respond to them within days. When the IPS did not reply to his demands, Sleiman started an open hunger strike on 01.09.2015 to protest the renewal of his administrative detention. As punishment, the IPS transferred him from Al-Naqab prison to isolation cells in Ofer prison to pressure him to end his strike. It is worth mentioning that Sleiman participated in the general hunger strike of 2012.

Kayed Abu Al-Reesh © google images

8. Kayed Abu Al-Reesh: 42 years old, temporarily resident of Al-Ein refugee camp, on day 5 of an open hunger strike.
Kayed was born in Ein Beit Al-Ma’ refugee camp in Nablus. He is a father of three children, and was detained 10 times by Israeli occupation forces, spending a total of 16 jails in Zionist captivity. On 14.12.2014, Kayed was detained by Israeli occupation forces yet again, and has since been held in administrative detention, which was renewed twice for 6 months each. Kayed started an open hunger strike on 04.08.2015 to protest his renewed hunger strike. As punishment, the IPS transferred him to isolation cells in Majido prison to pressure him to end his strike. During the first days of his hunger strike, Kayed’s mother received a telephone call from the Israeli intelligence asking her to convince her son to end his hunger strike in return to releasing him at the end of his detention period, but the family refused as he was held without charge or trial. After 23 days, Kayed suspended his hunger strike following promises from the IPS to review his case and hold a special court hearing to consider the possibility of his release. But at usual, the IPS did not comply with its promise. Days afterwards, Kayed was transferred to the so-called Ramleh clinic due to severe migraine as a result of his hunger strike. On 02.09.2015, Kayed’s family reported that he resumed his hunger strike.

Amer Shammas © google images

9. Amer Shammas: 24 years old from Hebron, on day 4 of an open hunger strike.
Amer was born in Hebron. In 2014, Amer went on an open hunger strike for 3 months to protest his detention without charge or trial, but suspended his hunger strike after the IPS promised to release him, nonetheless his administrative detention was renewed more than once. Amer started an open hunger strike on 03.09.2015 to protest his administrative detention. As punishment, the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) transferred him to isolation cells in Naqab prison to pressure him to end his strike.

In addition to the 9 administrative detainees on hunger strike, a 10th prisoner is currently on hunger strike:

Nour Jaber © google images

10. Nour Jaber: 42 years old from Hebron, on day 5 of an open hunger strike.
Nour Jaber was born in Hebron. He was charged with resisting the Israeli occupation and was sentenced to 17 times life imprisonment, and has been in Zionist captivity since 17 years. He was injured in the leg by the Israeli occupation forces during his arrest, and was tortured during the interrogation, including the use of staplers on his body more than 50 times by the Israeli interrogators, placing salt on his wounds and beating him severly on his injured leg. Since his imprisonment, Nour has been subjected to medical neglect by the IPS. On 02.09.2015, Nour started an open hunger strike to protest his arbitrary transfer from Rimon jail to Jilboa jail and to protest the policy of medical negligence he was subjected to. As punishment, the IPS transferred him to isolation cells in Nafha prison to pressure him to end his hunger strike.

Palestinian hunger strikers © google images

In a statement issued by five of the hunger strikers, they stressed that the goals of their hunger strike include the rejection of the policy of administrative detention against our people and freedom fighters, the refusal of the law of forced feeding, demanding the immediate freedom and breaking the stalemate and internal division, and the unification of the Palestinian national forces on the basis of joint national action inside the prisons and culmination of true national unity.

Freedom for ALL Palestinian and Arab political prisoners and detainees held captive in Zionist dungeons.

Sources:
http://pflp.ps
http://www.ahrarwledna.com
http://alasra.ps
http://samidoun.net/
http://addameer.org

Addameer: Hunger Strikers continue Strikes against Administrative Detention

Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association issued the following update on their legal visit with the hunger strikers in the Battle of Breaking the Chains on 8 September:

Ramallah- 8/9/2015- On their 10th day of hunger strike, administrative detainees reported to Adv. Samer Samaan during a visit he conducted in Ela, Ashkelon and Eshel prisons that they will continue with the “breaking the shackles” battle to end administrative detention policy and to guarantee a life of freedom for themselves and for everyone who has ever suffered from administrative detention, confirming that their will not be broken.

The five administrative detainees, Ghassan Zawahreh (34 years old), Shadi Maali (39 years old), Nidal Abu Aker (48 years old), Munir Abu Sharar (31 year old) and Bader Ruzzeh (27 years old) launched an open hunger strike on 30/8/2015 as a continuation to the escalatory steps they started on 20 August 2015 in protest of administrative detention policy after which the prison’s administration placed them in isolation in Negev, Ashkelon, Ela and Eshel prisons.

The hunger striking administrative detainee Ghassan Zawahreh stated to Addameer lawyer, who visited him on Sunday at Eshel isolation in Beersheba, that he is being held in a 100 x 180 centimeter room that only fits the mattress and does not have a toilet. As a result Zawahreh decided to stop taking water for one day to protest the conditions he is forced to live in. The prison’s administration transferred him to a slightly bigger cell that contains a bunk bed and a toilet. However, the cell does not have a shower or a sink and he was not allowed to have clothes other than the prison’s “Shabas” uniform. He also was not provided with a blanket and was not allowed to go to the fora (prisoners’ recreation time).

As for his health condition, Zawahreh stated that he gets a blood pressure test on daily basis and that he lost 11 kilograms of weight. He added that he will stop medical examinations in the future in protest of denying him his right to go to the fora and to shower, as well as denying him access to regular clothing.

Shadi Maali confirmed to Adv. Samaan, who visited him on Sunday at Ela isolation, that he stopped taking water on 6/9/2015 to this moment in protest of the behavior of the intelligence officer who tried to provoke Maali by putting food and water in front of his cell. Maali added that he is being held in a 200 x 300cm cell that contains a bunk bed, a shower, a sink and two blankets. The prison’s administration did not give him his personal belongings and clothes and he has lost 8 kilograms since the initiation of the hunger strike.

 As for Ashkelon isolation, the hunger striking administrative detainee Nidal Abu Aker told Adv. Samaan, who visited him on 3/9/2015, that he is being held in a 150 x 180 cm cell that contains a bunk bed, a toilet and a shower. When he needs to get out of the cell, his hands and feet are shackled.

Abu Aker stated that he has lost 8 kilograms since the beginning of the hunger strike. He refuses to take the medications he used to take before starting the hunger strike (blood pressure medication and four other medications). Abu Aker added that he is starting feel pain in both his legs as a result of the implanted platinum.

Addameer expresses its full support and solidarity with the administrative detainees and their legitimate demands and rejection of the arbitrary administrative detention policy. Addameer believes that the systematic use of administrative detention by the Israeli occupation forces  is a form of torture and a violation of Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, a crime against humanity according to Article 7 of the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court, and a war crime according to Article 8.

Addameer demands the immediate release of all administrative detainees and the fulfillment of their rights in accordance with international law. Addameer calls upon solidarity organizations, human rights organizations and individuals around the world to join the campaign to end administrative detention while emphasizing the necessity of popular support for Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

It should be mentioned that by the end of August 2015, the number of administrative detainees held in the occupation’s prisons had exceeded 350 detainees. About 50 administrative detainees began boycotting the military courts in July 2015 to emphasize the falsity of these courts that depend on secret information that neither the detainee nor his lawyer can review, in addition to their utilization as a tool to legitimize the occupation’s policy of arbitrary detention.

12 September, Los Angeles: Inter-Communal Poetry Night/Solidarity with Rasmea

Los Angeles, Saturday, Sept. 12, Open Mic/Poetry Night, Casa Solidaria del Sur/Solidarity House of the South, event at Jazz Park on the intersection of E. 42nd Place and Central Ave.

INTER-COMMUNAL SOLIDARITY

FROM SOUTH CENTRAL TO CHILE, PALESTINE AND BORICUA

For more information: Solidarity House of the South

Part of the Week of Action for Rasmea: http://www.stopfbi.net/take-action/2015/8/19/week-justice-rasmea-september-8-14

11 September, Milwaukee: Outreach for Rasmea

Friday, September 11
5:00 PM
The Original Fuel Cafe
818 E. Center St
Milwaukee, WI
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1495359754113769/

Milwaukee Anti-War Committee and supporters of Rasmea Odeh will come together for a fliering blitz of the city, followed by dinner! We will gather at Fuel Cafe on Center St. for coffee at 5pm, and distribute stacks of fliers. Then we will divide into groups to flier bulletin boards and telephone poles across the city for one hour. We will reconvene at Klingers East for Fish Fry (etc) for dinner!

Part of the Week of Action for Rasmea: http://www.stopfbi.net/take-action/2015/8/19/week-justice-rasmea-september-8-14

12 September, Chicago: Occupation is a Crime – Militarization at Home and Abroad

Saturday, September 12
1:30 PM
37 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1451622311807274/

Part of the Week of Justice for Rasmea: http://www.stopfbi.net/take-action/2015/8/19/week-justice-rasmea-september-8-14
In Palestine, the Israeli military routinely detains and abuses thousands of Palestinian children.
In the Philippines, political activists are disappeared and murdered by the Aquino government with impunity.
In America, a Black person is killed by police or vigilantes every 28 hours.
Oppression is enforced by violence: extrajudicial killings. Police crimes. Occupation. Siege. But the common enemy propping up these apartheid states, military dictatorships and militarized police departments, is US imperialism. The US is the world’s biggest warmongering superpower, and resistance in Gaza, uprising in Ferguson, and protest in Manila all strike the enemy with the same fist.

This year, Palestinians have marched in Ferguson and countless Black Lives Matter protests. Black activists traveled to Palestine to oppose Israeli apartheid. Angela Davis, the iconic political prisoner from the 1970s, has shared the stage with Rasmea Odeh, a modern day victim of political repression. Activists from the Philippines have also joined in the protests for both Palestine and against police crimes here. And in July, solidarity activists joined Filipinos in Washington, D.C. for a tribunal on human rights abuses by the U.S. backed government in Manila.

From Ferguson to Palestine, Occupation is a Crime!

Join Antiwar Committee-Chicago for a panel discussion with speakers:
*Frank Chapman from the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
*Lorena Buni from AnakBayan-Chicago.
* Sundous Daghash from United States Palestinian Community Network
*Holly Kent-Payne from Antiwar Committee Chicago

We’ll examine the U.S. system of war and domination of oppressed nations. We hope to strengthen the work of all our movements. We’ll also be selling Rasmea t-shirts and mobilizing for her appeals hearing in Cincinnati, OH on October 14th!

Palestinian prisoners face oppression in Megiddo; Bilal Kayed launches hunger strike

Palestinian prisoners in Megiddo prison are facing a campaign of suppression and forced transfers by the Israeli prison administration, in particular leftist prisoners associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Dozens of prisoners have been transferred from Megiddo prison via “Bosta” – a painful, abusive form of transportation that is extremely physically and psychologically stressful – to Gilboa, Asqelan, Negev and Ramon prisons over the past few days, in addition to intensified surveillance, raids and attacks.

Bilal Kayed, one of the transferred prisoners, was the representative of the PFLP prisoners in Megiddo. Transferred to an isolation cell in Asqelan prison after an “internal hearing”, he has, as of 5 September, launched an open-ended hunger strike in protest of his transfer and isolation. Kayed, from Asira al-Shamaliya in Nablus, has been imprisoned since 2001 and is serving a 16 year sentence. Other prisoners in Megiddo are preparing protests up to and including an open hunger strike in protest of the repression in Megiddo.

Among the prisoners transferred from Megiddo include Awni Jaber, Osama Abu Daoud, Jamal Barham, Yahya Zahran, Issam Najjar, Bashar Enairat, Uday Basalat, Shaher al-Raie, Issa Abu Khait, Jafar Abu Rish, Hassan Abu Kamilah, Tayseer Amuri, and Muhannad Zeidan.

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