UFree Network Launches International Campaign To Save 2 Palestinian Prisoners’ Lives
UFree Network | Campaigns
UFree Network launched an Int. campaign titled, “International Campaign to save Ayman and Samir: Freedom and Justice for
Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails” the action aims at supporting Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails,
particularly those on hunger strike.
UFree stated that the event launched on Monday, 26th Nov. 2012 is an urgent move to save the lives of two Palestinian
prisoners on hunger strike, Ayman Al Sharawna and Samir al Essawi.
According to UFree the step intends to pressure politicians and decision makers in Europe, especially the
parliamentarians and human rights activists so they can stop Israeli illegal and inhuman acts. The campaign calls on
politicians to pressure Israel to give Palestinian prisoners justice and immediately release those on hunger strike.
Lawyer, Shireen al Essawi, sister of prisoner Samir al Essawi told UFree that the health conditions of both Samir and
Ayman is rapidly and critically deteriorating. According to Shireen, Samir stopped drinking water for the past 5 days
and he was admitted to the hospital on Sunday evening, 24th Nov. 2012. Meanwhile, Ayman suffers from weakness in his
immune system as well as problems in his kidney which partially functions with 20% only. He lost eyesight in his right
eye. He also suffers from various problems in his left leg.
On his part, Chairman of UFree Muhammad Hamdan, expressed his deep concerns over the health of the two hunger strikers.
“We are extremely concerned as the health of Ayman and Samir is in great danger. They are being sentenced to slow death
by the state of Israel. Occupation authorities are torturing them and not giving them the due health care. I think
despite all that they will win over the Israeli occupation. Their determination remains stronger than occupation” stated
Hamdan
For the time being, UFree held Israel responsible for the lives of Ayman who is on hunger strike for the past 150 days
and also Samir who is on hunger strike for 119 day.
The organisation called upon all members of the free world to support Palestinian political prisoners, especially those
on hunger strike by signing the companion petition below:
International Petition to save Ayman and Samir
Freedom and Justice for Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails
A number of Palestinian political prisoners continue their open hunger strike in Israeli jails. This includes two
Palestinian prisoners, Ayman Al Sharawna and Samir al Essawi whose lives are at risk. Both of the political detainees
are on a hunger strike since long time ago in protest of Israeli violation of the Shalit prisoner swap. Ayman and Samir
were kidnapped and forcibly transferred to Israeli for no reason.
At this stage, the Israeli Prison Service is exerting tremendous pressure on them to end their hunger strike. It also
attempts to bargain their freedoms by opting them between remaining in jail to continue their previous sentences (the
sentences were removed as they were released in the Shalit prisoner swap) or leaving for exile.
Since their recent capturing, Israeli Occupation Forces did not convict or investigate them. Ayman Al Sharawna, 38, is
a resident of Dora in Herbon city. He began his open hunger strike on the 1st of July 2012. He already suffers from
various health complications including weakness in his immune system as well as problems in his kidney which partially
functions with 20% only. He lost eyesight in his right eye.
He also suffers from various problems in his left leg. Meanwhile, Samir al Essawi, 33, a resident of Jerusalem started
his hunger strike on the 1st of august 2012, since then he suffered from fainting and severe fatigue. He is unable to
stand or walk properly in addition to excessive weight loss. Al Essawi was admitted to Asaf Hrovi hospital few times due
to many health complications.
Based on the above facts, and the suffering of Palestinian prisoners and the inhuman treatment in Israeli jails; we the
undersigned express our full support and solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners and call for the following:
1- An immediate release of Palestinian prisoners who are on a hunger strike as their arrest is illegal as it’s the case
with thousands of Palestinian prisoners.
2- We call on Egyptian President, Mohammad Morsi, to personally interfere to release those prisoners as they were
released within the Shalit swap which was done by Egyptian mediation, yet Israel broke it.
3- We call upon Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and the International Red cross to promptly and immediately interfere to save the lives Ayman and Samir. We call on
them to expose Israeli flagrant violations, torture and inhuman treatment against Palestinian prisoners.
4- We request the United Nations Human Rights Council to put pressure on the Israeli authorities to release both
prisoners in addition to sending an International commission to investigate torture practiced against Palestinian
prisoners.
5- We ask the European parliament to stand by Human Justice by pressuring Israel to release Ayman and Samir.
6- We call upon the inter-parliamentary union to put a pressure over parliaments in the world so Israeli violations stop
immediately
Website: www.ufree-p.net
UFree Network | Media Centre
UFree Network is an independent European-wide human rights network; set up to defend the rights of Palestinian political prisoners and
detainees.
ENDS