CPTnet
September 16, 2004

HEBRON: Prisoners are still an issue

by Cal Carpenter

    For about three weeks this fall, thousands of Palestinian prisoners
were on hunger strike. In central parts of cities and villages all
over the Occupied Territories, Palestinians set up
tents in solidarity with the strikers. CPTers in Hebron spent a good deal
of time in the Prisoner's Hunger Strike Solidarity Tent there. We came to
show our solidarity and to listen to the stories of the prisoners and
their families.

Najwa Salem was one of the people who told us her story:

"Two of my sons are in prison. Wael is twenty-five and has now been in
prison for forty-five days. Thaer, my youngest son, has been in prison for
thirty days. Thaer is 18 years old.

"This is Thaer's second time in jail. The first time he spent one year in
prison and he didn't get charged. They accused him of involvement with
militant groups during his first time in jail. Thaer told me that the
guards beat him and did not provide enough food for the prisoners. At one
point the prison authorities tried to bribe Thaer with a car or money to
become a collaborator. But he refused to do this. My son is very smart.
He organized the administrative detainees even though he was only sixteen
at the time.

"My older son, Wael, was arrested coming home from Ramallah at the
checkpoint. They have not charged him with anything. He had not been
arrested before. The army told me that they are both wanted men. But they
have not said what they are wanted for.

"All the men in my family have been in prison at one time."

Najwa's story is not atypical. Everyone has someone in prison and every
prisoner has a story. People in the tent told us that around 60% of
Palestinian men have spent time in prison. The prisoners ended their
hunger strike about a week ago, but prisoner's rights are still an issue.
When they ended the strike, the prisoners said that it was because they
had come to some agreements with the Israeli prison authorities. Israeli
sources, however have stated adamantly that they have made no concessions.