October 11 + 12: Palestinian child prisoners in Israeli jails: DCI-Palestine in Brooklyn

7 October 2013

Defence for Children International-Palestine Section (DCI-Palestine) is a national section of the international non-governmental child rights organisation and movement, Defence for Children International (DCI), established in 1979. Currently, DCI has 45 national sections and associated members throughout the world, an international secretariat in Geneva and consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, UNICEF, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe.

DCI-Palestine representatives will discuss how Palestinian children are affected by Israel’s prolonged military occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. The process of arrest, transfer and interrogation will be described from a child’s perspective, where nearly 75 percent of children experience some form of physical violence.

DCI-Palestine is dedicated to defending and promoting the rights of children living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

DCI will be speaking in Brooklyn on October 11 and 12 and we encourage all to attend!

http://www.dci-palestine.org/
Friday, 11 October 2013, 7pm – Park Slope

St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church

283 Prospect Ave., between 5th and 6th Ave., Brooklyn NY

(just up from Grand Prospect Hall)

Subway: R to Prospect Ave. Side entrance; wheelchair accessible.

Saturday, 12 October 2013, 7pm – Bay Ridge

Salam Arabic Lutheran Church

(Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church)
414 80th Street, corner of 4th Ave., Brooklyn NY

Subway: R to 77th Street

When the Boys Return: New film examines child prisoners

7 October 2013

Palestine News Network published the following report on October 4 about a new film that looks at child prisoners in Israeli jails and how imprisonment of children impacts their lives. For more information about the film, please see its website: http://whentheboysreturn.com/

“When the Boys Return,” directed by Tone Andersen, is a documentary addressing the challenges that Palestinian youths face in Israeli jails pre, during and post detention, with a focus on the process of reentering society after their detention. The documentary presents a detailed view into the lives of 12 children, and how they are affected by their time in detention.

The film shows just a fraction of the 7,500 Palestinian minors aged between 12 and 18 who have gone through the Israeli prison system over the past 11 years.

The Israeli army often arrests young Palestinian men at night. Usually, the charge is stone-throwing and the average sentence is two years. Many display symptoms of post-traumatic-stress disorder when they are released from their detention.

“When the Boys Return” has won several awards in European film festivals, including Stockholm and al-Kazeera for documentary films, and was shown on European television stations in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Britain and Holland.

The YMCA office in the West Bank town of Beit Sahour, and representatives from the Norwegian consulate to Palestine in Ramallah, organized a showing of the film in the Russian Culture Center in Bethlehem. Attendants of the event included Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Qaraqe, General Director of Palestinian Prisoners’ Ministry Munkid Abu Atwan, Head of Prisoners’ Society in Hebron Amjad al-Najjar, Executive Manager of the YMCA Nader Abu Amsheh and several Palestinian minors who had been imprisoned, along with their families.

Executive Manager of the YMCA, Nader Abu Amsheh, welcomed the audience and thanked Minister Issa Qaraqe and the film’s director, Anderson, for discussing the issue of minor ex-detainees and their lives upon release.

He commended Anderson for having conducted extensive research and having accompanied the detained minors on their journeys inside the Israeli jails, adding that the 1-hour film took four months to be shot.

Abu Amsha told PNN that the film aims to show the suffering of detained minors, and expose the challenges that youths confront as they try to rebuild their lives in the face of the ongoing Israeli occupation of the West Bank.

Norwegian film director Tone Anderson, who lived in Palestine for a number of years before shooting “When the Boys Return,” thanked the Norwegian consulate to Palestine for sponsoring the film and praised the efforts of the YMCA and its staff for their cooperation in Hebron and Bethlehem. She also thanked her co-assistant director Raghad Mukarker who worked with her on the film, despite all the difficulties they encountered during the film’s shooting.

Anderson told PNN that she knows the truth about what’s going on in the West Bank, unlike how the situation is displayed in Western media. She adding that the Western media doesn’t focus on issues like the one touched on in the film.

After the screening, Anderson called the minor ex-detainees to the stage where they talked about their experiences and held a discussion of the film.

Click this link for a short and exclusive interview with Anderson about “When the Boys Return.”

Palestinian prisoners in Ashkelon prison abused in nighttime raid

7 October 2013

Israeli prison authorities in Ashkelon prison have engaged in a series of repressive and violent raids against Palestinian prisoners, reported Palestinian lawyer Karim Ajwa, on October 7.

Special units referred to as Nachson, along with police, stormed Section 3 and Room 13 in the prison, ransacking the prisoners’ belongings in a raid he called provocative and humiliating to the prisoners, who were removed from the room. Nasser Abu Hamid, a representative of sick prisoners, said that the forces damaged the prisoners’ belongings for no apparent reason, noting that the prisoners in Room 13 include sick and elderly prisoners, for whom the incident was painful and tiring.

The raid lasted several hours. Ajwa noted that these raids are ongoing and abusive and are now a routine part of reprisals practiced by Israeli authorities against Palestinian political prisoners.

Take action: Migrant detainees in Ontario continue hunger strike

7 October 2013

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network expresses its strongest solidarity with the migrant detainees on hunger strike in Lindsay, Ontario, and calls for the full recognition of their demands, and an end to the detention and imprisonment of migrants. For more information on the ongoing strike, please visit: http://endimmigrationdetention.wordpress.com:

Undocumented immigrants locked up in a maximum security jail in Lindsay, Ontario are now in the third week of their strike and are expanding their demands.

Detainees and allies are expanding the campaign for No Detentions and No Deportations! We are demanding:

An end to maximum security detention: Immigration detainees should should not be held in maximum security provincial jails, and must have access to basic services and be close to family members.
An end to indefinite detention: If removal cannot happen past 90 days, detainees must be released. Canada’s current immigration detention system is in direct contravention of the United Nations’ ruling on indefinite detention.
Extend access to legal aid for detention reviews.
Overhaul the adjudication appointment process for detention review.
In addition to the original #MigrantStrike demands:
Better access to medical care and social workers
Cheaper phone calls and access to international calling cards (many have family overseas)
Access to better food, like the food on the non-immigration ranges
An end to constant lockdowns
Keep the improved canteen program going
Better access to legal aid and legal services
Granting of specific requests to move individuals to facilities nearer to their families, legal resources, and social services.

“I was granted refugee status, but within that time, after I got my permanent residency, I was convicted. They tried to send me to Liberia, I was sent there with two officers to Liberia with two border guards, but the government of Liberia refused to let me in. I came back and they kept me in jail for 14 months, and then they released me. Since 2011, I have been in jail, they tried to send me to Ghana, because they think my voice and appearance is like Ghanians but Ghana didn’t want me. They tried to send me to Somalia because Somalia has no government, so they offered me $4,000 to go there but I didn’t want to go. So I have been in jail, and Canadian government has sent investigation teams to other countries but but nobody wants to take me. I’ve been in jail, and no country wants to take me. I did the program from Salvation Army, from John Howard society, I’ve eight certificates, I did family development, account management, social skills, I am doing another program. This organization ‘Redemption Reintegration Services wrote a letter saying they would help me to reintegrate society. They said they would give me a job but immigration turns me down. I have done everything immigration asked me to do but they don’t want to release me.”

Erik K. is 48 years old from Liberia, West Africa who has been in Canada since 1989

191 detainees on immigration hold in the maximum security prison in Lindsay have been on strike since September 17. These migrants are kept locked in cages for 18-22 hours a day, some of them for up to 7 years because Canada cannot deport them to home countries that will not take them back. In contravention of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights, Canada refuses to release them. They are being punished for being arbitrarily deemed a flight risk, and for the crime of being born elsewhere.

The strike began after the detainees were moved to Lindsay jail from prisons across Ontario where they face lockdowns, sub-standard food, limited access to telephones, and denial of family and legal visits. Despite this crackdown, many of them have been on hunger strike for 12 days now. At least six detainees have been hospitalized or received medical treatment, and at least one is on dry hunger strike. The detainees are now also collectively boycotting their detention review hearings, which have become a charade with no hope for release. This resistance is lifting the lid on what is arbitrary and indefinite detention.

TAKE ACTION

Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/meet-the-demands-of-striking-immigrant-detainees

Call, Email, Tweet at Minister Madeleine Meilleur, Provincial Minister for Jails, Minister Steven Blaney, Minister responsible for Immigration Enforcement, and jail and immigration enforcement officers. http://endimmigrationdetention.wordpress.com/take-action/

Family members and friends of detainees, please get in touch. Please let us know what city you are from. migrantstrike@gmail.com

Occupation raids and arrests Palestinians in Nablus, al-Khalil, Bethlehem

6 October 2013

In the past several days, arrest raids have taken place against Palestinians in Nablus, al-Khalil, and Bethlehem. 10 Palestinians were seized in the early hours of Sunday, October 6, by occupation forces in al-Khalil and Bethlehem, including two children, Amir Zayyah, 15, and Ziyad Subaih, 15. On Thursday, October 3, Jihad Omar As-Seer, 14. was seized by occupation forces in Bethlehem. On early Monday, arrest raids continued in Abu Dis, Dheisheh refugee camp, and Jenin.

On Friday, October 4, occupation forces launched a series of raids in the Nablus area, ransacking the office of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and arresting Zaher al-Shishtary, a spokesperson for the PFLP, as well as Yousef Abu Ghoulmeh of Beit Furik, Mohammed Shatawi of al-Ain refugee camp, and Thabet Nassar of Madama. The Israeli occupation forces stormed the office of the PFLP in Nablus and confiscated its contents and computers.

Emad Abu Rahma of the PFLP said that “the arrests will do nothing but make us more determined to continue the struggle to end the occupation and achieve our people’s goals of return and self-determination.”

October 19: Free all Palestinian Prisoners! Free Ahmad Sa’adat! Street protest in Manchester

6 October 2013

Saturday, October 19
12:00 pm
Tesco Metro
58-66 Market Street, M1 1PW
Manchester, UK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/638382702849929/

Street protest as part of an international week of action to free Ahmad Sa’adat, a freedom fighter from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and all Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Join us on Market Street in Manchester and protest outside the shops and companies that are supporting Israel.

Free Ahmad Sa’adat!
Free all Palestinian political prisoners!
Boycott racist Israel!

Organised by Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!

www.frfi.co.uk

www.freeahmadsaadat.org

October 26, Albuquerque: International Day of Support for Palestinian and Irish Political Prisoners (ABQ)

6 October 2013

For more details, please see the event Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/408835662552001

Come out for an evening of food, music, and letter writing and card signing!

Support our comrades who are in prison for us and for freedom!

Eileen & the In-Betweens will be performing some excellent music.

More Details coming SOON!

The Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat issued a global call for actions October 17-24, calling for freedom of Sa’adat and fellow Palestinian prisoners.

http://freeahmadsaadat.org/2013/09/15/october-17-24-global-week-of-action-in-solidarity-with-ahmad-saadat-and-palestinian-prisoners/

On the weekend of October 25/26/27, Irish republicans and their supporters will hold various protests and events on at least three continents, Australia, Europe, and North America, to show support for Irish Republican Prisoners.

http://supportthepows.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/committee-launched-to-hold-international-pow-day-2013-on-october-26/

To be involved and support through financial contributions or volunteer please email butler.a.michael@gmail.com

October 15, New York: Imprisonment of Palestinian Children in Israeli Jails

6 October 2013

John Jay Students For Justice in Palestine present Child Imprisonment of Palestinian Children in Israeli Jails with guest speaker Bradley Parker from the Defense for children international Palestine .

Tuesday October 15
1:30 Community Hour
North Hall Cafeteria 2nd floor
John Jay College
899 10th Avenue, New York, 10019
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/584809068250482/

Defense for Children International Palestine (DCI-Palestine), an independent child rights organization, is dedicated to defending and promoting the rights of children living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. For over 20 years, we have investigated, documented and pursued accountability for grave human rights violations against children; held Israeli and Palestinian authorities accountable to universal human rights principles; advocated at the international and national levels to advance access to justice and protections for children; and provided direct legal aid to children in distress DCI-Palestine will discuss how Palestinian children are affected by Israel’s prolonged military occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. The presentation will focus on the widespread and systematic ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention. The process of arrest, transfer and interrogation will be described from a child’s perspective where nearly 75 percent of children experience some form of physical violence. Based on DCI-Palestine’s experience documenting abuses and providing legal aid to children charged in the Israeli military court system, the presentation will also highlight the dual legal systems operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the disparity between legal protections provided to Palestinian children and Israeli children. Practical recommendations to curb abuses will also be presented.

Bradley Parker is international advocacy officer and staff attorney at Defense for Children International Palestine. He leads DCI-Palestine’s legal advocacy efforts on Palestinian children’s rights. Parker regularly writes and speaks on the situation of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly issues involving detention, ill-treatment and torture of child detainees within the Israeli military detention system and violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont and received his J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law.

Linan Abu Ghoulmeh released from occupation prisons

6 October 2013

Samidoun extends its congratulations, warmest welcomes and salutes to Linan Abu Ghoulmeh, released on October 1 from occupation prisons.

Linan Abu Ghoulmeh is a former political prisoner who was held in Israeli prisons for over five years from 2004 until 2009, when she was released in a prisoner exchange; she was then re-arrested in July 2010, when she was imprisoned until the October 2011 prisoner exchange.

She was re-arrested with her comrades and friends Leena Jawabreh and Myassar Atyani while visiting Woroud Qasem. Myassar Atyani remains imprisoned and we look forward to saluting her upon her freedom.

Anas Barghouti hearing postponed until October 9

6 October 2013

Further hearings in the case of detained Palestinian lawyer and human rights defender Anas Barghouti have been postponed until October 9, following a hearing on October 1. To date, the allegations revealed against Barghouti by Israeli occupation officials relate to his political work, and reflect the criminalization of Palestinian political activity: he is charged with membership in an illegal organization and leading a committee to organize a demonstration.

Barghouti is charged with membership in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. It should be noted that membership in every major Palestinian political party, including the Fateh party of the Palestinian Authority leadership, is criminalized and a pretext for imprisonment by the Israeli occupation. He is additionally accused of organizing a rally in honor of Abu Ali Mustafa, Palestinian leader assassinated by Israeli military forces in his Ramallah office on September 27, 2001.

Amnesty International has issued an alert proclaiming Anas Barghouti as a prisoner of conscience and calling for his immediate release.

It should be further noted that the attack on Barghouti, a former lawyer with Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, comes alongside the extension of a travel ban against Addameer director Abdel Latif Ghaith, the imprisonment of Addameer legal worker Ayman Nasser, and the arrest of Addameer accountant Samer Arbid, as part of comprehensive attacks against Palestinian organizations defending prisoners.

Take action now for Anas Barghouti:

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