Above photo: From Samidoun.
Tampa, l – We successfully organized a demonstration outside of a local G4S facility in Tampa in solidarity with Palestinian prisoner and hunger striker Mohammad Al-Qeeq. Our protest was picked up by Samidoun, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Solidarity Network:
Block the Boat Tampa organized an emergency vigil outside the offices of G4S in Riverside, Florida on Tuesday, 2 February, calling for the immediate release of Palestinian hunger striker Mohammed al-Qeeq on his 70th day of hunger strike.
Al-Qeeq, 33, is a Palestinian journalist who is held under administrative detention without charge or trial in Israeli prison. On hunger strike in protest of torture and administrative detention since 25 November 2015, he is held in HaEmek hospital in Afula in critical condition.
G4S is the world’s largest security corporation, and provides security systems, control rooms and equipment to Israeli prisons, checkpoints and police training centers, directly implicating it in the torture and abuse of Palestinian prisoners. It is subject to an international campaign calling for boycott of G4S because of its involvement in human rights violations in Palestine and elsewhere, including a call from Palestinian prisoners for international boycott of G4S. Hundreds of organizations have demanded the United Nations end its contracts with G4S.
Watch a video of Tampa organizers discussing the protest:
Samidoun in a show of cross-border solidarity, recently saluted Albert Woodfox, the last remaining member of the Angola 3 on his freedom from imprisonment in the U.S.: “Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network salutes Albert Woodfox on the occasion of his release from prison after 45 years, including 43 years of torturous solitary confinement, in Angola Prison in Louisiana.”
Recently Al-Qeeq, a Palestinian journalist, has been on hunger strike in protest over his detention without charges, torture, and threats against his family, for now over 90 days and his health is quickly deterioriating. Consider calling the Israel-Palestine bureau at the US State Department at 202.647.3930 or the White House at 202.456.1111 and urge them to pressure Israel to release Mohammad Al-Qiq from administrative detention immediately and allow him to seek medical treatment in a Palestinian hospital. Mr. Al-Qiq is a journalist and as such should enjoy special protections, rather than be subject to human rights abuses, and unjust arbitrary imprisonment.
Graphic Novel
After returning from doing solidarity work in the West Bank, Dezeray Lyn began composing a graphic novel recounting her experiences. Salaam Mish Hon Mish El Yom (Peace, not here, not today) is a collection of graphic illustrations by Dezeray Lyn spanning her final 3 weeks as a member of the International Solidarity Movement in the Israeli military controlled section of H-2 occupied Al-Khalil (Hebron) in the West Bank of Palestine in the Fall of 2015 — a time many are calling the beginning of the third intifada. Thank you to everybody who has already purchased Dezeray’s book. If you haven’t yet, and are interested in supporting Dezeray’s work, consider purchasing Dezeray’s graphic novel for a suggested donation of $15. She can be reached at multitudeofcheerfulfires@riseu
Singing you a freedom song,
your Tampa Palestine solidarity friends