On 27 September 2011, Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons announced <http:> the start of a campaign of disobedience to protest an escalating series of punitive measures taken against them by the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) in recent months.</http:>
The campaign is composed of several elements, including a hunger strike and refusal to cooperate with a number of IPS rules, such as wearing prison uniforms and participating in multiple daily roll calls. Further information can be found in the press release attached.
These actions have been announced following a speech given by Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in which he stated that whilst captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit remained incarcerated by militant groups in Gaza, tougher treatment would be imposed on Palestinian prisoners- a clear policy of collective punishment which has since resulted in the withdrawal of university education and the denial of basic rights such as family visits and access to adequate food in some of the prisons.
The Palestinian prisoners have made several key demands, some of which are listed below:
- End the abusive use of isolation;
- End restrictions on University education in the prisons;
- End the denial of books and newspapers;
- End the shackling to and from meetings with lawyers and family members;
- End the excessive use of fines as punishment;
- And ultimately end all forms of collective punishment, including the refusal of family visits, night searches of prisoners' cells, and the denial of basic health treatment.
TAKE ACTION!
In response to these demands, we are calling on all activists and supporters of human rights and justice for the Palestinians to take action in solidarity with the hunger strikers. There are two important ways in which to take action:
- Organize a protest, silent vigil or similar public action outside the Israeli embassy in your country and highlight the demands of the political prisoners. Addameer can send you further information on particular prisoners who are engaged in the hunger strike to support your action.
- Write a letter to the Israeli Prime Minister expressing your concern for the hunger strikers and demanding an end to the arbitrary treatment of Palestinian prisoners. A template letter is attached.
Please keep Addameer informed of any action you are planning to take and any response given by the Israeli authorities.
For further updates on the progress of the hunger strike and civil disobedience in the Israeli prisons, visit our website at www.addameer.info or our facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Addameer-Prisoner-Support-and-Human-Rights-Association/82295125199
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