Tag it:

Collective Punishment—closing the Shata Prison Synagogue to Jewish prisoners while forcing prisoners to work on the Sabbath to prepare for this week’s visit to Shata Prison by the Commissioner of Prisons.

Already from last week Sunday, the synagogue in the Shata Prison was closed to all Jewish prisoners. This punishment was meted out after prison authorities found a piece of plastic in the synagogue which they believe could be used as a weapon. This punishment was given collectively to all Jewish prisoners when it was not possible to discover to which prisoner the plastic could be attributed.

If that is not enough, the prisoners—both Jewish and Palestinian—who are not supposed to work on Saturdays, were forced by prison management to paint, including the synagogue, and cover the peeling walls in preparation for this week’s visit by the Commissioner of Prisoners to the Shata prison.

One of the prisoners, a Palestinian, was requested to take down his laundry so that this work could be conducted. When he asked why had to do this on Saturday, he was punished.

The source of this information has requested to remain anonymous out of fear of punishment by prison authorities.