Charge or Free Amer Issawi!
by Mahmoud El-Yousseph
Friday, January 25th, 2013
Hunger striker Samer Issawi, 33 years old, has been on hunger strike for over 184 days now, protesting the injustice of his detention and that of all the other Palestinian political prisoners. Like other Palestinian political prisoners, Samer Issawi’s indefinite detention without charges or trial is inhumane and an Israeli facade to continue to persecute the Palestinian people and those who dare to stand against Israel’s brutal occupation of Palestine and its crimes against the Palestinian people.
Issawi was previously sentenced to 30 years by Israel in 2002 and was among freed Palestinian prisoners who were released in October 2011 under a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel after he had served 11 years. However, this time Israel reneged and rearrested him eight months later, as it did in previous prisoner exchange deals. Such as in the case of Palestinian prisoners of Ziad Abu Ain in 1983 and Hanaa Shalabi in 2011.
Eight months after his 2011 release, Israel violated the terms of the swap deal and rearrested Issawi under Mickey Mouse charges (administrative 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. According to Aldemeer, a Palestinian Human Rights watch dog group, there are 25 members of the Palestine National Council, including the Speaker of the Parliament, who are among 5,000 Palestinians held captive in Israeli dungeons. These include 6 women, 166 children and 320 “administrative detainees.”
Since the year of 2000, the Israeli occupation authority issued over 20,000 administrative detentions orders. Palestinian held prisoners often boycott the Israeli military courts, as they view them as sham courts that are used by the Israeli occupation army and Israeli intelligence as a cover of illegal detention based on “secret” files and lack of indictment.
Basic element of democracy requires Israel to either charge or free Samer Issawi and other administrative detainess. Under a democratic system of government you are innocent until you are proven guilty. Not guilty till you’re proven innocent. So, if you are a Palestinian living under Israeli occupation, forget about the rules of law, as it does not apply to you.
Last December, Israeli guards assaulted Samer Issawi during a court hearing for the whole world to see when he tried to greet his family in a Jerusalem court, while the prisoner’s hands and feet were cuffed.
Issawi who assigned to Israel’s Ramleh prison was briefly hospitalized when his heart dropped to 36 beats/minute. That did not stop the guards and Israeli forces from assualting Issawi again as he tried to address the media. The guards dragged him by hands and feet to court’s detention room.
To add insult to the injury, Israeli forces raided Issawi’s home town North of Jerusalem on the day he was beaten in court and arrested his sister, Shireen without any charges, other than defending her brother’s right to freedom. Shireen who is an attorney is telling the world now to “stand by my brother beofore it’s too late!”
To make his voice heard, and challenge his illegal detention and inhumane treatment, Issawi went on an open-ended hunger strike until death or freedom. As of this writing, Issawi is on his 183th day. He is currently in a very critical condition due to an acute vitamin B-12 deficiency. Also, he suffered from neural and muscular problems, lost control of his limbs, got vision problem and blood vomiting.
Last December, Amer lost consciousness for 48 hours after he was give “medicine.” This is clearly very critical and inhumane treatment. Israel should be held accountable for this flagrant violation of human rights.
From a personal experience and from someone who lobbied for 18 months for his brother’s freedom from an Israel concentration camp in south Lebanon in 1980s, I do know that writing, challenging Israel publicly does make a difference. So, I do urge all people of conscience who read this to have their voice be heard and be counted, as I did few days ago. Yes, I did get a response back and not a death threat, a visit by DHS or the FBI : These two officials hold the highest two political ranks in Israel.
Write to the President and prime Minister of Israel:
Email: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu :pmo.heb@it.pmo.gov.il ; media@pmo.gov.il
Email: President of the state of Israel Mr. Shimon Peres:public@president.gov.il
Fax: +972-2-5664838 ; +972-2-5887225 (You can send via free fax)
Subject: charge or free Amer Issawi
Dear President/Prime Minister,
For the love of peace, please use your power to prevent injustice!
Mahmoud El-Yousseph
Retired USAF Veteran
Feedback: elyousseph6@yahoo.com
Posted by Mahmoud El-Yousseph
on January 25, 2013. Filed under Activism,Palestine.
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20 Responses to Charge or Free Amer Issawi!
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Mahmoud El-Yousseph
January 27, 2013 at 3:51 am
Here is more update on Samer’s case:
To pressure Samer Issawi to end his hunger strike, Israeli Police arrested his sister for 24hrs, IOF cut off water supply from his family’s home, & Israeli Army demolished his brother’s home on Jan 1, 2013
Blake
January 27, 2013 at 8:24 am
I am amazed at this usurping mammon nightmare and the lengths they go to hold onto their stolen land.
Mahmoud El-Yousseph
January 27, 2013 at 6:50 pm
This note is to thank brother Jonathon and the staff at the deLiberation for helping with spreading the word in support of our hero of empty stomachs Samer Issawi who has been on hunger strike for 186 days.
Like wolfs, the Israeli soldiers bounced on our hero Samer Issawi saying, “You’ll die; your heart as well as your kidneys aren’t working properly; Your body is shrinking. You will die.” His response though was as powerful as sound of bullets in their hearts, “I’m continuing my hunger strike till freedom in loyalty of the martyrs who were recently killed in cold blood. Their lives isn’t any more precious than mine. I’m on hunger strike for the sake of freedom for all Palestinians who were re-arrested. I’m on hunger strike till either freedom or martyrdom and for my beloved Jerusalem I will return free. I will return free!”
This is Samer Issawi whom the Israeli Prison Service is hoping to kill him. He’s going through a process of slow death at their hands. He’s ready to sacrifice his life for the sake of freedom but we don’t want him to die!! Support him any way you can!! Our silence can kill him!
Again, thanks for your contiuous support for the plight of the Palestinians!
Mahmoud El-Yousseph
January 27, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Do you have the answer why Samer’s hunger strike is being ignored ?
In 1943′s Gandhi & 1980′s the Irish hunger strikes was world wide news and drew a lot of support for their cause but today the international media is ignoring the Palestinian hunger strikes….WHY !!!
whoever keeps silence about a righteous issue is complicit in the crime.
Samer Issawi is 186 days Hungry for Freedom………………
Via: Ghinwa M. Al-hamdan
Blake
January 29, 2013 at 4:45 am
International Solidarity in the ‘Year of the Hunger Strikes’
http://weareallhanashalabi.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/international-solidarity-in-the-year-of-the-hunger-strikes-waahs-interview-with-canadian-solidarity-hunger-striker-sara-mcglock/
Mahmoud El-Yousseph
January 29, 2013 at 4:19 pm
Keeping silence or neutral in the face of human rights abuse of All Palestinian prisoners held inside Israeli concentration camps is giving Israel the green light to its racism, apartheid and war crimes.
Blake
January 29, 2013 at 10:43 pm
Samer is in real danger … Let’s change our profile picture and pray tonight for Samer al-Issawi
Let every one of us support the striker prisoner in his own way
“Samer Issawi is in his last days” Shireen Tariq al-Issawi, Samer al-Issawi’s sister, said.
It is not a press statement issued by the Red Cross or Minister of Prisoners Affairs Issa Qaraqe, It is a description of a man facing death at any moment
We closed the television for not to hear the breaking news without moving to save his life.
http://www.facebook.com/activists.palestine
Blake
January 29, 2013 at 10:47 pm
“My son is in danger and the international institutions are deaf, dumb and blind !! ” Samer Issawi’s mom
http://www.facebook.com/activists.palestine
Blake
January 29, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Samer al-Issawi Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails battling hunger strike and drink to protest his detention and demand his freedom and he is now on hunger strike for 189 days ago.
Captive Samer al-Issawi live his last days as he faces the risk of death at every moment he suffers from erosion in the muscles of the body, and weakness in the consideration, and kidney pain, and burning in the eyes, as if the two peppers,And severe aches all over the body. In addition to the weakness in the heart and very high temperature.
Above all, the ill-treated by Israeli doctors at the hospital.
Samer needs the whole world to save his life .. Please help him … Please.
http://www.facebook.com/activists.palestine
Blake
January 29, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Please show your solidarity as it takes less than a min to call and speak with the detainees’ family members (Your words can and will make a difference) !!!
Samer Issawi’s family(From inside Palestine)
0522040135
Samer Issawi’s family (From outside Palestine)
00972522040135
Ayman Sharawna’s family
00970599727347
Ja’far Ezzedeine’s family
00970597468337
Tareq Qa’adan’s family
00970597590006
Tareq and Ja’far have been on hunger strike since 63 days (Administrative detainees too)
Make sure that your call will make a difference and will strengthens their families.
Mahmoud El-Yousseph
January 30, 2013 at 7:55 pm
A message from Free Samer Issawi campaing to former US president Jimmy E. Carter. President Jimmy Carter
The Carter Centre
One Copenhill
453 Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, GA, 30307
Dear Mr. President,
Israel’s use of Administrative Detention is inhumane, unjust and a violation of International Law!
I am writing to you today about the 212 Palestinian prisoners from the occupied West Bank who are being held illegally without charge or trial in
Israeli jails.
Further, administrative detainees as well as other Palestinian prisoners are
subjected to human rights violations such as torture and other ill treatment during interrogation, as well as cruel and degrading treatment during their detention. They face bans on family visits, poor prison conditions, inadequate medical care, forced transfers and deportations and solitary
confinement.
These actions contravene Israel’s obligations under International Human
Rights Law and International Humanitarian Laws. For decades, Human rights
organizations such as Amnesty International have called for an end to Israel’s use of Administrative Detention but it continues to this day.
I would like to bring your attention in particular to the case of Samer al Issawi, an administrative detainee from Jerusalem, imprisoned since 7th July 2012 with no charge or trial.
Samer was released from an Israeli prisoner in October 2011 as part of the Shalit prisoner exchange deal. He had been serving a 30 year sentence for
alleged weapon possession and forming military groups in his home town of Jerusalem. Only eight months after his release, he was rearrested in Hizma because Israel claims that he broke the terms of the release by leaving Jerusalem; however Israel’s own maps show that Hizma is within the borders of the municipality of Jerusalem. He was detained but has not been charged
or brought to trial.
To protest this injustice, he has been on hunger strike for the past 186 days and his life is now in eminent danger. He is currently in hospital because of a slow and erratic heartbeat, he faints often and cannot stand or
move on his own, he has pains everywhere and his vision is failing. His family and as well as the people of his village are being pressured by Israeli authorities when they hold solidarity protests for him and other hunger strikers. Even the Red Cross and Israeli NGO Physicians for Human Rights Israel have been denied access to him.
Samer is one of several Palestinian administrative detainees in Israel who
are now literally starving to death for justice. Israel must stop the use of administrative detentions and release all prisoners immediately unless they are charged with an internationally recognized crime and given fair trials in independent courts. I urge you to take action in this matter before it is too late. I ask that you stand with us for Samer and all other Palestinian administrative detainees.
Sincerely,
Abbas Hamideh
National Chair, Al-Awda, The Palestine Right To Return Coalition & Coordinator, The Free Samer Issawi Campaign
Daleen Elshaer
Coordinator, The Free Samer Issawi Campaign
Blake
February 3, 2013 at 1:30 pm
Samer Must Live! Your action may make the difference!
http://freehaifa.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/samer-must-live-your-action-may-make-the-difference/
Mahmoud El-Yousseph
February 5, 2013 at 10:00 pm
Unable to take this off my mind. Here is the very latest update. Keep your fingers crossed & pray!
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=562280
Blake
February 6, 2013 at 12:03 am
heart rending stuff. Into his 197th day of hunger strike. I do think of his plight, and all of Palestine, everyday.
Blake
February 6, 2013 at 11:22 pm
Bit of good news from “I Support Palestine” on FB:
Israel to release prisoner after long-term hunger strike: Lawyer.
Israel will release Palestinian prisoner Akram Rekhawi, who spent 100 days on hunger strike last year, his lawyer said Tuesday.
Akram Rekhawi will be released Thursday, four months before completing a 9-year sentence. Rekhawi, from the southern Gaza Strip, stopped his hunger strike in July after prison authorities agreed to release him six months early, and had resumed his hunger strike on Jan. 24 over his continued detention.
Blake
February 6, 2013 at 11:48 pm
There was a Protest in front of PLO in solidarity with hunger striking Palestinian prisoners, Ramallah, West Bank, 05.02.2013
Palestinian activists protested in front of the PLO building in the West Bank city of Ramallah asking them to intervene to save the Palestinian prisoners’ life still on hunger strike in Israeli prisons; Ayman Sharawna (More than 210 days), Samer Issawi (195 days), Tareq Qa’dan, Jafar Ez-Din and Yousef Shaban (71 days), February 05, 2013.
Blake
February 11, 2013 at 11:33 pm
From FB:
Activists around the world for Palestine
Breaking News : The Islamic Jihad faction threatens Israel with a hard and harsh reply If Samer Isawwi dead due to his hunger strike while the Israeli army is raising the warning alert south of occupied Palestine.
Blake
February 11, 2013 at 11:43 pm
Gaza Youth Breaks Out (GYBO)
Last message from Samer to his Family
” Either I win the battle of freedom and dignity or die fighting.. I love you all”
Blake
February 15, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Over 1000 protest in front of Ofer prison in support of hunger striking prisoners
Over thousand Palestinians took part today in the Friday prayer and protest which was organized by the Popular Committees, titled “Friday of breaking the silence” in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, Samer Isawi, Ayman Sharawneh, Tareq Qa’adan and Jafar Iz Eldin. Protesters called for their release and the release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Blake
February 17, 2013 at 4:19 pm
Samer Issawi: No going back, I am owner of Right
Letter from prisoner Samer al-Issawi as it came from the Ministry of Prisoners:
I turn with admiration to the masses of our heroic Palestinian people, to our Palestinian leadership, to all forces, parties and national institutions. I salute them for standing by our fight to defend our right to freedom and dignity.
I draw my strength from my people, from all the free people in the world, from friends and the families of the prisoners who continue day and night chanting for freedom and an end to the occupation.
My health has deteriorated dramatically and I’m hanging between life and death. My weak body is collapsing but still able to be patient and continue the confrontation. My message is that I will continue until the end, until the last drop of water in my body, until martyrdom. Martyrdom is an honor for me in this battle. My martyrdom is my remaining bomb in the confrontation with the tyrants and the jailers, in the face of the racist policy of the occupation that humiliates our people and exercises against us all means of oppression and repression.
I say to my people: I’m stronger than the occupation army and its racist laws. I, Samer al-Issawi, son of Jerusalem, send you my last will that, in case I fell as a martyr, you will carry my soul as a cry for all the prisoners, man and women, cry for freedom, emancipation and salvation from the nightmare of prisons and their harsh darkness.
My battle is not only for individual freedom. The battle waged by me and by my heroic colleagues, Tariq, Ayman and Ja’affar, is everyone’s battle, the battle of the Palestinian people against the occupation and its prisons. Our goal is to be free and sovereign in our liberated state and in our blessed Jerusalem.
The weak and strained beats of my heart derive their steadfastness from you, the great people. My eyes, which started to lose their sight, draws light from your solidarity and your support of me. My weak voice takes its strength from your voice that is louder than the warden’s voice and higher than the walls.
I’m one of your sons, among thousands of your sons who are prisoners, still languishing steadfastly in the prisons, waiting for an end to be brought to their plight, their pains and the suffering of their families.
The doctors told me I became exposed to stroke because of the disorder of my heartbeats, the shortage of sugar and the drop in blood pressure. My body is full of cold and I can’t sleep because of the continued pain. But despite the extreme fatigue and chronic headaches, as I move on my chair, I’m trying to summon all my resources to continue on the road till its end. There is no going back, only in my victory, because I’m the owner of Right and my detention is invalid and illegal.
Do not be afraid for my heart if it will stop, don’t be afraid for my hands if they will be paralyzed. I am still alive now and tomorrow and after death, because Jerusalem is moving in my blood, in my devotion and my faith.
http://www.causes.com/actions/1733024-samer-issawi-no-going-back-i-am-owner-of-right?open_dialog=inviter&recruiter_id=6485347&utm_campaign=activity_mailer%2Fnew_activity&utm_medium=email&utm_source=causes