From School Seats to Prison Benches

RAMALLAH, January 28, 2015 (WAFA) – In a different world where Israeli occupation doesn’t exist, a 14-year-old girl would have been busy complaining about her coursework, going out with her friends to the mall, watching television with her family over a neatly prepared dinner table or simply staring at the night sky dreaming endlessly about the bright future.

Unfortunately that is not the case for Malak al-Khatib. She was literally snatched from the side walk next to her school in the small village of Beitin, in the Ramallah district by heavily armed Israeli soldiers, who claimed to have been spooked by Malak’s threatening actions and alleged stone throwing. Malak was eventually locked up behind bars in Israel after a trial at Ofer Military court on January 22.

Malak, the youngest Palestinian prisoner currently serving an actual imprisonment sentence in Hasharon Israeli prison for two months, is sleeping far away from her older four brothers and three sisters. Being the youngest in her family, Malak has left quite a gap that couldn’t be filled, but with fear and unease.

Malak’s father Ali told WAFA that until the moment he knows nothing about his young daughter, who has been detained for about 23 days since December 31, and later sentenced to two months in prison and a fine of 6000 shekels (approx. $1523).

The youngest Palestinian prisoner in Israeli prisons at only 14-year-old.

“We do not know if she is feeling cold or hungry or what she is going through,” said Ali in a noticeably desperate tone. He confirmed that his family was not yet granted permission to visit Malak; however he said he would hear back from the Red Cross on possible visitation permission next Sunday.

Ali said that lawyer Taghreed Jahshan from Women’s Organization for Political Prisoners, has visited Malak and informed the family that Malak has flue and feeling slightly tired. However, other older female prisoners are taking care of the child and providing her with constant care and support.

Malak’s 20-year-old sister Wa’d, described her young sister’s arrest and following sentence as an “unforeseen shock”, especially that Malak is a quiet girl who has never expressed any violent tendencies or done anything such as throwing stone.

“We are used to Malak being the fun one. She is always laughing and we are used to her being so lively in the house,” Wa’d said. “We are in distress. We can’t sit or do anything since Malak’s arrest and detention.”

The family tried to send Malak cloths to keep her warm during the cold season, because she was not prepared for two months away from home. She did not have many items with her upon her arrest, thinking that she will be leaving in maximum two weeks. Her mother requested that some cloths be sent to Malak, but her request was denied by the judge.

Lawyer Jahshan who doesn’t represent Malak, yet has visited her in prison and sat with her for half an hour, told WAFA that Malak is impatiently waiting to go home. “We are talking about a child here. She is looking forward to go home to her family.”

Locked behind Israeli bars for two months, Malak was accused to throwing rocks and the possession of a knife.

Jahshan said that Malak is expected to be released on February 13, however her release is not confirmed as it might be just what is called as an “administrative release”, meaning that she might remain in prison even after the official date of her release.

The lawyer said that she and her colleagues will continue to monitor the case of Malak and remain in touch with her family and the prison’s administration in order to coordinate Malak’s release and inform her family of the latest updates.

Jahshan said that Malak is now under the careful attention of other older female prisoners. “Malak didn’t have any cloths, but prisoner Muna Qadan has asked her family to bring cloths that fit Malak. The older prisoners are taking care of the younger ones and are making sure to provide them with food and emotional support.”

If Malak wasn’t arrested on the last day of her first school term, she would have been back at school now, flipping through her new colorful books and enjoying the break time with her young girlfriends. Malak’s sister Wa’d said that when Malak is released, life will definitely return to its normal path and her family will be able to resume living from where Malak has left.

Israeli Court Sentences 14-Year-Old Girl to Two Months in Prison, $1523 Fine

Shackled and in tears, 14-year-old Malak al-Khatib from the village of Beitin, in the Ramallah district, was taken from the Israeli military court Ofer to begin serving her two months sentence in prison and for alleged rock throwing and the possession of a knife.

After being detained for 23 days, Malak was sentenced to two months in prison and a fine of 6000 shekels ($1523), even though she had hopes of being released to reunite with her family who has been living in distress ever since Malak was detained on December 31, 2014.

Ali al-Khatib, Malak’s father, told WAFA earlier that his daughter was detained allegedly under the pretext of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers at the bypass road near her school, which he denied that could have happened.

He said, “She was leaving school after attending her last exam for the first semester when all of a sudden soldiers jumped at her, handcuffed her hands and took her with them.”

A military decision was supposed to be made on January 4th, however the court postponed her hearing to January 11.

Malak’s father, Ali told media, “We hoped that she would be released in yesterday’s session. We were so optimistic, but the judge’s decision shocked us. Malak suddenly broke down and started crying.”

He recalled the day of Malak’s arrest and says, “When I went to the detention center to see Malak, thinking a misunderstanding must have took place, soldiers told me “she is not a child, she scared us and threatened the life of a soldier.”

Malak’s detention was extended several times and she spent around 23 days awaiting her ruling. At the time, the lawyer defending her was trying to reduce the fine, Malak’s father earlier told WAFA.

She is now serving her sentence in Hasharon detention center with another three female prisoners who are, according to her father, taking care of Malak and emotionally supporting her.

Malak is considered the youngest prisoner currently serving a sentence in Israeli jails. She is one of 7000 Palestinian children who were arrested since the start of the second Intifada in September 2000, many of whom are still serving sentences.

Lawyer Ayed Abu Qutesh told WAFA that even though the International law allows the detention of minors, it should be always the last decision that any court or state takes. All concerned parties should try to find other alternatives to the detention and actual imprisonment of children, such as fines and suspended imprisonment.

Lawyer Jawad Bolous explains “the Israeli occupation’s policy of arresting minors contradicts with all international laws regarding minors. It starts at the very moment of arrest where soldiers forget that they are arresting a minor, treating the children in a very barbaric way. The minors go through detention until the ruling, while Israel ignores the grave consequences of this detention on their lives.”

Malak’s family wasn’t able to visit her at the detention center, but only saw her at the court on January 11 for the first time after her arrest. Her father said then that she looked distressed and scared. “After all she is only 14,” he explained desperately.

WAFA tried to reach Malak’s father once again to learn more about the condition of Malak now that she is serving the sentence, but he remained out of reach.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education condemned in a press release the ruling, describing it as a “heinous crime”.

According to the Defense for Children International Palestine (DCI-Palestine), “Israel is the only state to automatically and systematically prosecute children in military courts that lack basic standards of due process.”

It said in a report on the arrest of minors by Israel that “Around 500 – 700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12, are arrested, detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military detention system each year. The majority of Palestinian child detainees are charged with throwing stones.’

While Palestinian children endure such conduct, no Israeli children come into contact with the military court system, proving the amount of discrimination in the Israeli system.

A UNICEF report concluded that ill treatment of Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention system appeared to be ‘widespread, systematic and institutionalized’.

“On average 700 Palestinian children a year, appear before Israel’s military court,” said the United Nations.

The UN said about 726,000 Palestinian men, women and children have been through the court since the occupation of the Palestinian Territories, in 1967.

A testimony of a child identified as Z.Q., who was detained by Israeli soldiers, published in a Military Court Watch report, says “I was dragged downstairs and I banged my head against the front door, because I was blindfolded and the soldiers were careless. I was in shock and pain. The impact of the bang was so hard I bled.”

According to the report, children detainees are treated harshly in most cases. It mentioned measures such as binding hands and eyes, signing documents in Hebrew, physical and verbal abuse, night arrests, threats, strip searches and solitary confinement to name a few.

Local and international media outlets reported on Israel’s cabinet’s decision to back a law change allowing harsher sentences of up to 20 years for stone throwers after the recent tensions in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Being a Jewish Woman in Palestine- Answers to 3 FAQs

"And you shall teach this to your children"

(by Katya)

I’ve been back from Palestine for two weeks, and I’ve gotten a lot of questions and comments about my experiences there. I really appreciate people asking questions and wanting to learn about what reality looks like, but some of the questions conveyed a lot of persisting stereotypes, racism, Islamaphobia and misconceptions. For that reason, I’d like to answer those questions here. They are:

1. “What was it like being a woman in Palestine? Did you get a feel for the oppression of women in that society?”

  2. “Did you face a lot of anti-Semitism or hostility as a Jew in Palestine?”

and, not to be outdone:

3.  “What was it like being surrounded by Islamic extremism?”

On being a woman in Palestine:

-I was treated with respect- noticeably more respect than I experience as a woman in America. I didn’t get creeped on or leered at…

View original post 1,414 more words

Engaged for Four Years, Together under One Roof for Six Days

RAMALLAH, January 5, 2015 (WAFA) – Rashid wanted to name our boy ‘Sameer’ and I chose to name my little girl ‘Sarah’. We dreamt of a small house in my most favorite city in the entire world, Nablus. We agreed that eventually we would move to a bigger house, because a small one would not accommodate all the antiques that I will collect. I also wanted a small garden to plant roses, lemon and mint for tea. I had hope once, but all I have now is disappointment.

Dalia Shurab, a 32 year-old Palestinian from the Gaza Strip’s city of Khan Younis, lives three hours away from Rashid Fuda, her 35 year-old fiancé who lives in the West Bank’s city of Nablus. Despite the relatively short distance, their fairy tale might be doomed to complete failure. Dalia and Rashid have been engaged for four years now, but only been with each other in person for a total of six days.

They first met virtually through Facebook and have been speaking ever since. Their relationship grew, but the sharp borders, the Israeli occupation and the absurd three hours between Khan Younis and Nablus stopped them from meeting in person.

Until one day when Rashid saw a Facebook status saying that Dalia is in Jordan. Realizing that this might be his only chance to fulfill the dream, Rashid took off to Jordan in pursuit of Dalia and visited her at her aunt’s house. After asking for her hand in marriage from her father over the phone, Rashid’s dream was begging to become a reality.

That was four years ago. Dalia and Rashid never meant to prolong their engagement, a decision that many other couples choose to make; they simply had no choice.

Dalia says: “I feel that I am different; I see all other girls around me getting engaged, going out with their fiancés, throwing nice parties and living the time of their lives. Sometimes I wish I would just die to stop the pain.”

Their only way of communicating is over the phone or Skype. Dalia says, “Days pass by without seeing each other, because we have no power in Gaza. It has been a month since I last saw Rashid. When he sees photos of me and videos of events that I join, he is ecstatic and starts sharing everything on his Facebook wall.”

Dalia has been stuck in the Gaza Strip for over four years even though she has tried everything possible to travel to the West Bank to get married to Rashid. She sought help from local and international human rights organizations, high ranking Palestinian officials, legislative council lawmakers, Ministers and even the president Mahmoud Abbas himself.

She said: “I tried to go to the West Bank multiple times but without any success. I used to apply to many conferences to get a permit, but I would always get rejected. It hurts to see others from countries abroad having access to your own country while you are treated like an outcast.”

Dalia finally decided to seek the help of social media activists, because she almost lost all hope of being united with Rashid. Dalia with the help of her best friend launched the Hashtag “Take the Bride to the Groom, Mr. President” to send out a message to Abbas that she needs his help.

“We have so much in common, me and Rashid. We both love electronics and photography, we love the same songs, we have the same dreams and aspirations and we like to discuss the same topics.”

Dalia reached a point where she thought about giving up. After years of unrelenting attempts to unite with Rashid, Dalia has lost all hope.

‘Rashid’s birthday is in two days,’ sighed Daila. ‘I think we will celebrate over the phone, because the power is cut.’

She said that before getting engaged, they were not worried about borders and moving to the West Bank, because a high ranking official from Nablus promised Rashid to help Dalia move to the West Bank or issue her a permit.

That person and many others who once promised to help abandoned Dalia, Rashid and their dream.

Rashid was willing to leave his work and live with Dalia in Gaza, but she refused because she graduated 10 years ago and still can’t find a decent job. She says, “There is no life in Gaza. You can’t find work and you can’t travel abroad to pursue higher education.”

Rashid had hoped that if the reconciliation is ever realized, they would be able to reunite. Rashid even saw hope in the war on Gaza. He told Dalia that once the war is over, restrictions over borders might be lifted and she might be able to move to the West Bank.

Dalia said with a shaken voice: “We chose the songs for our wedding and the invitation cards. Rashid printed the cards and sent them over to me. If I ever get married in the West Bank I will be alone. My mother wouldn’t be able to be with me on my special day.”

“When I think about the future, I am disappointed. Four years of my life have been wasted. My dreams, ambition and plans for a brighter future were frozen.”

In pain, Dalia said “I do not think I will recover anytime soon. I wish my efforts would work, but I am afraid to hope. I am simply afraid to suffer yet another disappointment.”

http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=27489

“Take the Bride to the Groom, Mr. President” is the name of the campaign launched by a Palestinian girl and her fiance who have been engaged for four years and couldn’t get married because she is from Gaza and he is from the West Bank. (Photo credit: Palestinian Campaigns Facebook Page, 2015).