For journalists covering the case of 33-year-old Palestinian hunger striker Samer Issawi, who is reportedly on the verge of dying from a hunger strike that began last summer following his detention without charge or trial by Israel, the IMEU offers the following quotes for publication.
To speak with these individuals or for more information, contact Chris at (202) 903-3271 orchris@imeu.net, or Michael at (828) 424-0081 or michael@imeu.net. For a Palestine-based IMEU representative, contact Vivien at +972-597-220-838 or vivien@imeu.net.
DR. MUSTAFA BARGHOUTHI, Leading figure in Palestinian civil society, longtime advocate for the non-violent Palestinian protest movement, and one of the founders of the independent political party, the Palestinian National Initiative:
“Samer Issawi is conducting the most peaceful form of nonviolent struggle for his freedom. He was illegally arrested by Israel and is kept under administrative detention, which allows Israeli authorities to imprison any Palestinian without charge or trial for an unlimited time. Samer is struggling like many of his colleagues against this racist practice. His life is at risk and it is the duty of those who believe in human rights to act immediately to save his life and free him from the system of racism and Apartheid.”
YOUSEF MUNAYYER, Executive Director of the Jerusalem Fund and the Palestine Center in Washington, DC, and regular contributor to the Daily Beast’s Open Zion blog:
"For months, Samer Issawi has refused food on a hunger strike and the world has ignored him. Despite his resilience, which is an inspiration to Palestinians everywhere, he is now reportedly close to death. He is demanding freedom and dignity, and is willing to pay the ultimate price to achieve them. At this moment, international players and global civil society have an opportunity to either stand in support of Samer and other Palestinians engaging in nonviolent resistance to Israel’s brutal and illegal occupation regime, or remain muted. There can be no in between. Palestinians are watching with heavy hearts and history is recording."
NOURA ERAKAT, Freedman Teaching Fellow at Temple Law School, adjunct professor at Georgetown University, and the Legal Advocacy Coordinator for the Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Refugee and Residency Rights:
“Samer Issawl, a Palestinian political prisoner who has refused food, and even water at times, to protest his detention without charge or trial is imminently near death. He joins a mounting number of Palestinian political prisoners who have chosen the hunger strike as their primary protest tactic, in line with President Barack Obama's call to follow the example of Blacks who used ‘peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals of America's founding’ to achieve full equal rights in the US. Israel, however, has not responded positively to these compelling, nonviolent gestures.
“Israel holds Samer in administrative detention, or indefinite detention, on unknown charges. Administrative detention is applied almost exclusively to Palestinians, as Israeli military law does not apply to Jewish Israelis, and has been described by the UN Committee to End Racial Discrimination as tantamount to 'apartheid and segregation.' Since 1967, Israel has detained no less than 20% of the Palestinian population of the occupied territories, 200 of whom have died in captivity.
“The real crime of Samer and other Palestinian political prisoners is that they’ve had the audacity to protest the forced removal of Palestinians from their homes and lands by Israel, and their degrading treatment by an Israeli regime that treats them like criminals until proven innocent.”
“Israel holds Samer in administrative detention, or indefinite detention, on unknown charges. Administrative detention is applied almost exclusively to Palestinians, as Israeli military law does not apply to Jewish Israelis, and has been described by the UN Committee to End Racial Discrimination as tantamount to 'apartheid and segregation.' Since 1967, Israel has detained no less than 20% of the Palestinian population of the occupied territories, 200 of whom have died in captivity.
“The real crime of Samer and other Palestinian political prisoners is that they’ve had the audacity to protest the forced removal of Palestinians from their homes and lands by Israel, and their degrading treatment by an Israeli regime that treats them like criminals until proven innocent.”
-------------------
Christopher Hazou
Communications Manager, IMEU
(202) 903-3271
www.imeu.net
Follow us on Twitter: http://imeu.createsend1.com/t/
Follow us on Facebook: http://imeu.createsend1.com/t/
Christopher Hazou
Communications Manager, IMEU
(202) 903-3271
www.imeu.net
Follow us on Twitter: http://imeu.createsend1.com/t/
Follow us on Facebook: http://imeu.createsend1.com/t/
The IMEU is an independent, non-profit, that works to provide resources and accurate information about Palestine and the Palestinians to journalists.
No comments:
Post a Comment