On Wednesday the 7th, another demonstration calling for the release of the four CPT hostage in Iraq was held in al-Manara, Ramallah, at 4:30pm. On the same day, a press conference calling for the release of four was held in Nablus.
Ramallah residents, Palestinian women from the Women For Life group (who had come all the way from the Salfit region) and international supporters and friends made up the quiet, dignified demonstration. Just as darkness started to fall, candles were lit as a symbol of hope for the release of the four. Large fiery torches were also lit, as a way of making a visual impact and drawing attention to our calls for freedom. There was a decent amount of media there, and we can only hope and pray that the message got through to the kidnappers in Iraq, and that our friends will be released soon.
We held up pictures and large posters of the four hostages, showing them in Palestine and Iraq protesting against the apartheid wall and for the human rights of prisoners and detainees. US citizen Tom Fox was pictured protesting against the wall. James Loney was pictured in Iraq advocating for detainees rights. The large poster of Harmeet showed him with Palestinian children on a farm in Jenin. There were also signs in Arabic and English calling for their release.
Palestinians across the political spectrum have consistently called for the immediate release of the four over the last week, as well as all other civilian hostages in Iraq.
AP Photos of the demonstration:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/051207/481/mm10112071723 http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/051207/481/mm10212071724
CPT Pictures of the four:
http://www.cpt.org/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album142