Mohammed Abu Humus, Alternative Information Center (AIC) member and political activist in Jerusalem, was taken for interrogation by the Israeli General Security Services (GSS) on 15 May 2008 as he was leaving a joint Palestinian-Israeli commemoration of the Nakba, a commemoration that he himself organized.
Mohammed Abu Humus, Alternative Information Center (AIC) member and
political activist in Jerusalem, was taken for interrogation by the Israeli
General Security Services (GSS) on 15 May 2008 as he was leaving a joint
Palestinian-Israeli commemoration of the Nakba, a commemoration that he
himself organized.
The Israeli police waited until Abu Humus left the commemoration
before stopping him, along with additional Palestinian and international
activists. After checking everyone’s identification documents, the police
announced that Abu Humus had outstanding debts and they took him away in an
unmarked car.
During a subsequent interrogation by the Israeli General Security
Services (GSS), Abu Humus learned the real ‘reasons’ for his detention: his
political activism in Jerusalem and opposition to the Israeli occupation. Abu
Humus was questioned about, amongst other things, his anti-occupation activities
with Israelis and internationals and his active opposition to the illegal use
of roadblocks and detentions for debt collection against Palestinians in his
and other East Jerusalem neighborhoods. In August 2007, the Association for
Civil Rights in Israel submitted a petition to the High Court against the use of
“debt collection checkpoints” in East Jerusalem, in which Abu Humus is a primary
petitioner. The petition is still pending (In Hebrew, click here).
Connie Hackbarth,
Executive Director of the AIC, was with Abu Humus at the time of his detention.
“It is clear that the Israeli authorities are targeting Abu Humus because of
his determined political activism against the Israeli occupation and actions on
behalf of a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis. At the same time Olmert
and visiting President Bush were speaking about peace, actions on the ground
proved their real intentions. Israel’s institutional harassment of Palestinian
political activists must stop immediately.”
While Mohammad Abu Humus was released the day following his initial incarceration, the AIC fears that he may again be targeted by the
Israeli authorities for his continuing work against the Israeli occupation. We
ask that you write and demand that Israel stop harassing Palestinian political
activists in general, and Mohammad Abu Humus in particular.
Israeli Minister of Public Security Avi Dichter
Email:
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Israeli Minister of Justice Daniel Friedmann
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Fax: +972 (2) 628 7757
On 15 May, a peaceful joint Palestinian and Israeli demonstration was held at Damascus Gate in the Old City of East Jerusalem, under the banner "End the Israeli Occupation Now! Uphold United Nations Resolutions and International Law!"
Israeli and International protestors holding a poster commemorating 60 years since the Palestinian Nakba.
Israeli border police watching the demonstrators.
Palestinian man being stopped by an Israeli soldier and made to show his identity cards.
Local and international media covered the demonstration.
Another Palestinian man being stopped by an Israeli soldier and made to show his identity cards.
A Palestinian citizen of Israel being interviewed for an Israeli news program.
An older Palestinian man being stopped by an Israeli soldier and made to show his identity cards.
Yet another Palestinian man being stopped by Israeli soldiers and made to show his identity papers.
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