|
|
SEND OUR PREWRITTEN LETTER NOW OR, WRITE YOUR OWN: http://www.cflweb.org/congress_merge_.htm ********************************* Citizens for Fair Legislation For Immediate Release August 17, 2004 ******************************** CFL ALERT: PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS GO ON HUNGER STRIKE TO DEMAND BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. ASK YOUR REPS TO PRESSURE THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT INTO CONFORMING TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.
Political prisoners in Israeli prisons started a hunger strike on 8/15/04 to protest the barbaric condition they are being subjected to. Palestinian prisoners say that the conditions they experience are reminiscent of the former Abu Ghraib facility in Iraq which gained worldwide notoriety recently for its treatment of detainees. Most Palestinian prisoners have never had a trial or been charged and are being held despite their internationally recognized right to resist their occupiers. International, U.S. and Israeli human rights groups have condemned the ongoing mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners to the Israeli government to no avail.
TALKING POINTS: *Israeli’s have consistently shown an utter disregard for Palestinians under their control, whether in their prisons or under their occupation. When told about the impending hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners, Public Security Minister, Tzachi Hanegbi, told reporters at a press conference in Jerusalem that the prisoners "can strike for a day, a month, even starve to death, we will not respond to their demands". Palestinian prisoners demands are humanitarian not political. Tell your representatives that as the largest donors of Israeli welfare we have an obligation to demand that they abide by international law and open up its prisons to the Red Cross, Amnesty International and other human rights organizations to investigate reports of abuse and torture.
Some of the conditions that the prisoners are protesting include:
*Arbitrary and indiscriminate beating of prisoners in their cells, prison courtyards and during transportation to and from prisons.
* Arbitrary and indiscriminate firing of tear gas into prisoner's cells, prison courtyards and intimidation of prisoners by guards entering their cells with guns.
* Humiliating strip searches
of prisoners in full view of other prisoners and guards each time they enter or
exit their cells. * Subjecting prisoners to solitary confinement for excessive periods of time, for months and even years.
* Arbitrary imposition of financial penalties on prisoners for minor infractions, arbitrary revocation of visitation rights and extended confinement to cells as punishment for minor infractions such as singing or speaking too loudly.
* Confining children with adult prisoners and political prisoners with criminals.
* Withholding or delaying medical treatment and the provision of medication to sick detainees.
* Severely restricting the category of family members entitled to visit prisoners thus denying visitation rights to other close family members.
* Arbitrary denial of travel permits to family members of prisoners living in the West Bank or Gaza so that they cannot travel to prisons to see their relatives.
* Imposing conditions on travel for family members and obstacles that result in travel of a few hours being prolonged to 16 or 17 hours for a 45-minute visit.
* Conducting humiliating strip searches of visiting family members even though they are usually separated from the prisoners by a full glass barrier as well as a wire mesh barrier.
* Providing such poor visitation facilities that prisoners find it difficult to see or hear their loved ones.
* Maintaining prisoners on near starvation diets that are insufficient to sustain health.
* Applying rules concerning items that prisoners may receive from their families arbitrarily and inconsistently, on the whim of the guards, with each visit.
* Withdrawing studying privileges that in the past allowed prisoners to continue their high school or university studies through correspondence courses.
*The treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israel violates both international and Israeli laws, as well as rules governing the administration of Israeli prisons. Tell your representatives that a democracy does not abuse or torture their prisoners; demand that they put financial pressure on Israelis until that country stops abusing its Palestinian population.
Please choose the appropriate letter to send! (YOU MUST PICK A SUBJECT FROM THE DROP DOWN BAR) [After you enter your contact info the appropriate addresses are provided. Simply type, or send our prewritten letter and click send. Be sure to bookmark this page so you can send ONE LETTER EVERY DAY. We have prewritten letters for your convenience.] EMAIL AND OR CALL THE WHITE HOUSE WHITE HOUSE COMMENTS LINE: 202-456-1111 WHITE HOUSE SWITCHBOARD: 202-456-1414 WHITE HOUSE FAX: 202-456-2461 =============================== Citizens for Fair Legislation is a grassroots organization committed to encouraging a fair domestic and foreign policy with an emphasis on the US/Arab world. www.cflweb.org To learn more about John Kerry and his anti-human rights position on Palestinians, click here: http://cflweb.org/kerryonisrael.htm.htm
|
