Imprisoned Palestinian clown and teacher Abu Sakha to appeal administrative detention 21 March
by samidoun
Mohammed Abu Sakha, imprisoned Palestinian circus performer and trainer, will appeal his administrative detention order on 21 March
in an Israeli military court hearing on his imprisonment without charge
or trial under secret evidence. Abu Sakha, 24, is a trainer and
performer with the Palestinian Circus School who
specializes in working with children with disabilities; he was arrested
in December 2015 at a checkpoint by Israeli occupation soldiers as he
traveled from his home in Jenin to the school in Bir Zeit.
There
is an international campaign to free Abu Sakha; the Circus School he
works with has partnerships with circuses and artists around the world. Amnesty International has called for his release in an urgent action; the European Union has expressed concern about his case. Protests in Toulouse, Brussels,
Madrid, London, Heidelberg and elsewhere - often combined with creative
performances - have called for his release, while circus and arts
groups have petitioned on his behalf, among over 7,000 who have signed the online petition in support of Abu Sakha.
Abu
Sakha had his first visit from his mother in prison last week, who
issued the following statement following his visit (reported by the Palestinian Circus School):
Good
evening to all! Yesterday I visited Mohammad for the very first time. I
had mixed feelings between being proud and pained by the distance. At
the same time I was very happy to share and feel with other parents
whose children are held in prison for years. I experienced how parents
get tired and insulted by the soldiers whose ages barely exceed 20 years
old, shouting at older respectful people. Because we care about seeing
our children, we force ourselves to put up with all the humiliation for
the sake of a 40 minute visit that passes in a glimpse of an eye.. I
told Mohammad about all the solidarity campaigns that you are all
organizing, at first he was contemplated then he asked me to thank you
all on his behalf. Mohammad told me he feels pained for all the
children, only 12 and 13 years old, and the disabled people who are
imprisoned. He says that they are the ones who deserve solidarity
campaigns and manifestations. Human rights organizations should work for
them. Even though he’s imprisoned, Mohammad still cares about
fulfilling his mission to ease people, he turned the prison into a small
circus, making shows and entertaining prisoners. He told me we force
ourselves to believe that we are in a summer camp, not a prison so that
days pass by quickly. I hope God grants them all freedom and he sends
his greetings to all.
Take action – join the campaign:
1. Sign the online petition calling for Abu Sakha’s release:https://secure.avaaz.
2. Take the action called for by Amnesty International:
- Amnesty UK (English): https://www.amnesty.org.uk/
actions/free-palestinian- circus-performer-held-israel - Amnesty Germany (German): http://www.amnesty.de/urgent-
action/ua-012-2016/ palaestinenser-ohne-anklage- haft - Amnesty Spain (Spanish): https://www.es.amnesty.org/
actua/acciones/israel-artista- circo-palestino-ene16/
3. Organize a protest performance – or a simple leaflet distribution – in your community. Hand out the “Free Abu Sakha” leaflets and help support freedom for an imprisoned Palestinian artist. Share it withSamidounand the Free Abu Sakha facebook.
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