National March in Hebron on Palestinian Prisoner’s Day
by the ISM Media Crew, 16 April 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HEBRON– Tomorrow, in commemoration of Palestinian Prisoner’s Day, prisoner solidarity events will emerge throughout the West Bank. With the efforts of Islamic and national offices, the national demonstration for Prisoner’s Day will take place in Hebron. There are over 10,000 Palestinian prisoners behind Israeli bars, with 2,900 of them from Hebron.
The demonstrators will meet at 11am at the Jerusalem Open University on Ein Sara Street. Nisreen, an organizer of the march, said that “all parties will come together in solidarity to demand the release of our brothers and sisters in Israeli prisons.” Nisreen further stated that “the demonstration is an open invitation and everyone is invited to join.”
The march will end at the Idn Russed School on Ein Sara Street. There, a rally will be held where family members and community representatives will discuss the conditions of Palestinian political prisoners, including stories of torture, death, and suffering within Israeli jails.
Also, on April 19th, a children’s demonstration will march down Ein Sara Street. Each child will hold a candle as they march. “These candles will represent the prisoners and the flame represents the hope that every Palestinian shares that the prisoners will be released and the Occupation will end.” The march will begin at 4pm at the Jerusalem Open University and end at the Idn Russed School.
Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti recently held a press conference where he highlighted the case of Palestinian political prisoners. He said that 10,400 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli jails in contravention of Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. 4,575 prisoners (46 %) have not undergone trial and 950 (10%) are being held in administrative detention which means that prisoners have not been charged, can be held for up to 6 months, which can then be renewed indefinitely. 376 children under the age of 18 and 118 women are currently in Israeli jails. 95 percent of Palestinian prisoners have reported being subjected to various forms of torture and 183 prisoners have died in Israeli jails.
For more information, contact:
Nisreen, 0599-081-579
ISM Media Office, 0599-943-157, 02-297-1824