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Dima al-Wawi, 12, the youngest prisoner in the world did not believe that she finally was released and reunited with her family, after 75 days of detention.
The look in Dima’s eyes when she was released was sad filled with horror and pent up innocence; inspecting the faces of the welcomers, while her voice was infused with the will to live and was dreaming of the future. She felt a desire to get out of the house after suffering long days behind the prison walls.
With confidence, Dima was responding to questions directed to her by journalists and TV correspondents and to well-wishers whether at her family’s home or on the phone.
A piece of pain
Dima’s mother, Um Rashid, told the PIC that February, 9th was a day of deep sorrow, “when we were astonished to hear the radio stations broadcast the news of the arrest of Dima, while we thought that she was in her school near our home”.
Dima’s mother, Um Rashid, told the PIC that February, 9th was a day of deep sorrow, “when we were astonished to hear the radio stations broadcast the news of the arrest of Dima, while we thought that she was in her school near our home”.
Dima told the PIC reporter that the Israeli occupation pursued several methods of torture against her, such as spraying cold water on her in the days of bitter cold, in addition to threats and intimidation techniques and continuous interrogation.
She said that while she was being transferred to and from the prison during the trial hearings, she saw children prisoners injured and languishing in prison.
Dima said that she spent her time in prison in cross stitching, praying, and reading books.
Abu Rashid, Dima’s father, said that Dima’s absence from home was a shock and “was difficult for us because of her young age, and despite the fact that Dima has six sisters and three brothers, she was like the candle of our house”.
“What eased our pain were the solidarity campaigns by human rights committees and organizations, which formed a pressure on the occupation, forcing it to release her”.
Her mother said that Dima returned home like a butterfly that rejects being restricted by walls, she wants to fly out of the house, seizes every chance to get out and inhale fresh air, but grief is apparent on her face and she talks, screams and moans in her sleep as if she is seeing a nightmare.
Military law
Amjad Al Najjar, director of Palestinian Prisoners Society in Al-Khalil, said: “The crime of children prosecution that the Israeli occupation commits adds another crime to the series of crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinians”.
Amjad Al Najjar, director of Palestinian Prisoners Society in Al-Khalil, said: “The crime of children prosecution that the Israeli occupation commits adds another crime to the series of crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinians”.
“This crime is committed only by the Israeli occupation in accordance with the Israeli military law -which applies to Palestinians living under military occupation in the West Bank- that allows the prosecution of children as young as 12 years and older,” he added. Dima has been detained under this law.
He said that the occupation faced international pressure for the release of Dima al-Wawi, because the detention of children from age 12 to age 16 is forbidden under the international law and Israeli law –while the Israeli military law authorize it-. This pressure forced the Israeli court to release the child two months early, along with an 8,000 shekel ($2,100) fine.
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