Demand US State Department intervene for rights of Palestinian political prisoners

ACTION ALERT

Fast in solidarity with Khader Adnan set for Monday

(CHICAGO 02/16/2012) – Palestinian political prisoner Khader Adnan, who has been on a hunger strike for more than 60 days, is hovering near death while Israel with full impunity continues to imprison him without charge or trial.

Israeli Occupation Forces burst into Adnan’s home in the early morning hours of Dec. 17, greatly frightening his two young daughters. Now, after two months of starvation, the baker and green grocer has lost more than 70 pounds and is extremely weak. He has not been showered since his arrest and his face and body are covered with ulcers, his wife, who is pregnant with their third child, has said. Despite the fact he is near death, his hands and feet are shackled to his hospital bed.

Adnan has made it clear he is fasting for all prisoners who are tortured, mistreated and often held without charge or trial for indefinite periods of time. As of Dec. 31, 2011, Israel was holding at least 307 Palestinians in administrative detention in Israel, which violates the Fourth Geneva Convention. These detentions can be extended indefinitely. Prisoners are held on “secret evidence,” which is presented to a judge but never to prisoners or their lawyers. The prisoners are not told why they are being held. They are prohibited from looking at this so-called “evidence” and they receive no trial. In perpetuating these measures, Israel violates the basic principles of human rights and internationally recognized norms of judicial conduct and this is un-American.

“He does not undertake this hunger strike for its own sake, but he yearns for freedom for his people, for his countrymen, in order to live with heads held up high, without occupation," Adnan’s father told protesters in Palestine, according to published reports.

Despite protests and solidarity fasts by committed activists around the globe, there has been almost total silence from the United States, the one country who is in the unique position to force Israel to comply with international law.

TAKE ACTION

The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) find the resounding silence by the United States to be absolutely deplorable and in direct contradiction to the values due process and also human rights, which we cherish. AMP calls on its supporters and all those who support human dignity and social justice to call the office of Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, in the State Department and demand the US intervene to force Israel to release Adnan and all political prisoners.

National Call In Day: Call Mr. Feltman from noon to 3 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 17 and again from noon to 3 p.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 20 to demand justice for Khader Adnan and all political prisoners.

Furthermore, AMP is calling for a solidarity day of fasting for all political prisoners on Monday, Feb. 20.

CONTACT INFO

Call the office of Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs at 202.647.7209.

TALKING POINTS

• State your name and the city and state where you reside. Be polite but firm.
• The fact that Israel denies due process to Palestinians is racist and indicative of an apartheid state.
• U.S. support of Israel in light of these facts hurts American interests abroad and threatens our national security.
• The US should demand that Israel uphold the basic values of life, liberty and dignity inherent to all human beings.
• The US should demand that Israel release Adnan and all Palestinian prisoners.
• Once you call, please email AMP at [email protected] with Khader Adnan in the subject line. Please tell us when you called and what state you reside in.