[Pnews] Demand freedom for Palestinian, Ahmad Qatamesh and administrative detainees

Prisoner News ppnews at freedomarchives.org
Mon Nov 11 11:24:39 EST 2013


  Kaabi: Demand freedom for Ahmad Qatamesh and administrative detainees

*http://samidoun.ca/2013/11/kaabi-demand-freedom-for-ahmad-qatamesh-and-administrative-detainees/?print=1*

A protest gathered outside the headquarters of the UN High Commissioner 
for Human Rights in Gaza on Sunday, November 10, in solidarity with 
Palestinian academic and administrative detainee Ahmad Qatamesh and all 
administrative detainees in occupation prisons, demanding an end to 
international silence on administrative detention.

The protest was organized by the Popular Front for the Liberation of 
Palestine and included participants from national and Islamic forces, 
families of prisoners, and representatives of the Progressive Student 
Action Front and the Palestinian Progressive Youth Union.

Former prisoner Allam Kaabi reported that the next hearing of 
Palestinian academic Ahmad Qatamesh, held under administrative detention 
without charge or trial for over two and a half years in Israeli 
prisons, has been transferred from Ofer prison to Megiddo.

Qatamesh, 62, has had his administrative detention extended seven times, 
most recently in August. He is recognized by Amnesty International 
<http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/palestinian-ahmed-qatamesh-administrative-detention-israel-2013-04-25> 
as a prisoner of conscience. Prior to his recent administrative 
detention, he spent six years in Israeli jail, from 1992-1998, and wrote 
a memoir of his experiences in Israeli prisons, including torture.

Kaabi noted that Qatamesh is in poor health and the travel from Ramon 
prison, where he is being held, to Megiddo, is over 12 hours and will 
cause significant negative health impacts. Qatamesh rejected this 
decision and prison authorities responded to threaten to transfer him by 
force to Megiddo. Kaabi said that this is a malicious attempt to injure 
and fatigue Qatamesh and force him to accept the principle of a hearing 
that he rejects as illegitimate.

He said that the Bosta, which is used to transport prisoners, creates 
health risks not only in the length of time it takes for transport and 
the resulting severe fatigue, but that the prisoner is transferred in 
unclean conditions, shackled to an iron chair inside the transport, 
without sufficient openings in the vehicle for ventilation.

Kaabi called upon the Palestinian masses and national institutions to 
take urgent action on the issue of prisoners held in administrative 
detention, particularly the issue of Ahmad Qatamesh, detained since 
2011. He also called for international pressure on the occupation to 
implement the agreement with the prisoners in the Karameh hunger strike 
in May 2012, tto provide a private car to transport sick prisoners and 
abolish the "Bosta" system.

Kaabi warned of the repercussions of the continuing systematic practices 
targeting Qatamesh's health and life, noting that the last time he was 
transferred he suffered bruises due to falling in the Bosta in light of 
continued deterioration of his health.

Kaabi said, "We stand today in front of the headquarters of the High 
Commissioner for Human Rights in the Gaza Strip, in protest against the 
policy of silence followed by the international institutions toward our 
brave prisoners in Israeli jails, especially the administrative 
detainees." He urged action to support the protest threatened by 
administrative detainees if there is no response to their demands, 
saying all energies must be mobilized for their release and to launch a 
global campaign of solidarity with them.

Kaabi said that the release of all prisoners, especially the sick 
prisoners, administrative detainees, and leaders of the Palestinian 
people, must be a top priority as a just cause, as the prisoners have 
been and continue to be at the forefront of the Palestinian nation in 
confronting the occupation and building steadfastness.

*Take Action for Qatamesh*: 
http://www.palestinematters.com/Please-demand-release-of-Palestinian-writer-Ahmad-Qatamesh_Appeal_108.aspx

Article by Ahmad's daughter Haneen about his arrest: 
http://electronicintifada.net/content/when-israeli-soldiers-came-arrest-my-father/9901

Addameer profile of Ahmad Qatamesh:
http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=156

1998 interview with Ahmad Qatamesh:

http://www.freearabvoice.org/interviewSeniorAdministrativeDetaineeQatamesh.htm

In 1999, Ahmad Qatamesh was detained by the Palestinian Authority for 
joining a protest against corruption: 
http://www.phrmg.org/pressrelease/1999/04dec1999.htm

-- 
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863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org
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