Saturday, September 26, 2009

Human rights defender arrested- please take action

Dear Friends
On September 22, Mohammad Othman was arrested and detained by Israeli soldiers on the Allenby Bridge Crossing, the border from Jordan to Palestine. He was returning from a trip to Norway and other European countries, where he was raising awareness about Palestine.

Mohammad, 33 is the youth coordinator for the Stop the Wall Campaign. He has dedicated the last ten years of his life to the defense of Palestinian human rights. His village, Jayyous, has lost most of its land to the Wall and the settlements. He has worked constantly to let the world know about the crimes against his people and has developed relations of international solidarity.

Please sign the petition to show your support and urge Norway, and the EU to seek his release:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/stopwall/petition.html

In peace
Grietje
PS Mohammad is one of around 8000 Palestinian political prisoners currently being held by Israel, around 550 of whom are held without charge or trial.




Stop the Wall campaign youth organizer detained at Allenby




Bethlehem - Ma'an - Coordinator of the youth programs for the Stop the Wall Campaign Mohammad Othman was arrested by Israeli soldiers as he returned to the West Bank following a tour in Norway on Tuesday, the Badil research center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights said in a statement.

He is reported to be in the Huwara prison, likely under administrative detention, and was detained e. Othman was had met with several Norwegian officials, particularly around the recent steps for the country and its large pension fund to divest from companies involved in the construction of the separation wall and Israeli settlements. During his visit he met with Norwegian Finance Minister Kristen Halvorsen.

This is the second time in recent memory that Palestinian activists have been detained at the Allenby bridge and held ostensably for their works. Earlier int the year eyewitness for the UN Fact Finding Mission Muhammad Srour, was detained on his way home from testifying in Geneva.

The 33-year-old Othman has worked in the field of Palestinian rights for the last ten years. His recent work focused on the nvolvement of Israeli and international business in the violations of Palestinian human rights.

Source: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=227633

2 comments:

  1. Hi,
    I just want to say, I have seen the wall on my second visit of Israel. I spoke to my friends living in Palestine. I can not imagine myself living in such a conditions. I think it is important to protest against such a thing. I think the international community should do something too.
    Julia

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  2. 52 days and Mohammad is still in detention, still no charges brought against him. He has been physically and psychologically ill-treated, and he is currently not allowed to see his attorney or his family!

    http://freemohammadothman.wordpress.com/

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