Gaza Boat Prisoner: I Write to you from Cell 9 of the Apartheid State of Israel

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A pro-Palestinian activist stands between Palestinian flags in front of the Greek parliament during a protest against the Israel's naval blockade on the tiny Palestinian territory. (Photo: AFP - Louisa Gouliamaki)By: David Heap


Published Monday, November 7, 2011

Dear sisters and brothers, friends and loved ones,

I write to you from cell 9, block 59, Givon Prison, near Ramla in Occupied Palestine. Although I was tasered during the assault on the Tahrir, and bruised during forcible removal dockside (I am limping slightly as a result) I am basically ok. We are Ehab, Michael, Karen from Tahrir, as well as Karen, Kit (US) and Jihan, who we saw briefly this morning. We are most concerned about our Tahrir shipmate, Palestinian Majd Kayyal from Haifa, last seen by us at Ashdod being photographed and put in a police car.

Although Michael and I (among others) were transported in handcuffs and leg shackles, let me stress that we are neither criminals nor illegal immigrants but rather political prisoners of the apartheid state of Israel. Four from the Tahrir are imprisoned with 12 Irish comrades from the Saoirse, who have more experience with such issues. The four of us – Ehab and I (Canadian), Michael (Australian) and Hassan (British) – have joined the Irish in their political prisoner’s committee in order to press our collective demands:

■ association in the block – i.e. open cells

■ adequate writing and reading material

■ free communication with outside world – i.e. regular phone calls

■ information about shipmate women held at this same prison

We add one Tahrir-specific demand: that the Israeli state recognize the professional status of Democracy Now journalist Jihan Hafiz in accordance with her credentials from the US government. All political incarceration is unjust but let me stress that in duration and conditions, our situation pales in comparison to the plight of thousands of Palestinian political prisoners and to the open air prison of Gaza.

If you have energy to devote to solidarity actions in the coming days, please concentrate on them. We must get Tahrir back and hope Freedom Waves continues.

Free Majd Kayyal! Free all political prisoners! Free Gaza! Free Palestine!



Anishnabe-debuewin, restons humaine, stay human, in love and struggle.

David

David Heap was arrested while taking part in the Freedom Waves flotilla to break the siege on Gaza. He was on board the Tahrir. This letter was released by the lawyer who met with him Saturday.

Majd Kayyal was released from detention, but it appears that Heap and the other political prisoners weren't told where he was taken.


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