January 15, 2015 marked the 13th anniversary of the arrest of Ahmad Sa’adat, Palestinian national leader and General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, by Palestinian Authority security forces. Sa’adat, along with his comrades, would remain imprisoned in the Palestinian Authority’s Jericho prison under U.S. and British guard until 2006, when the prison was attacked by Israeli occupation forces, abducting Sa’adat and his fellow Palestinian political prisoners.
The Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat marked an international day of action on January 15, calling for the freedom of Sa’adat and all Palestinian political prisoners, and an end to Palestinian Authority security coordination with the Israeli occupation – the security coordination which led to Sa’adat’s original arrest and imprisonment. Organizations around the world expressed their support for Ahmad Sa’adat and the over 6,500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails, from Argentina to Brazil and France.
An Israeli military order recently prohibited Sa’adat from receiving any family visits; since 2006, he has been prohibited visits from three of his four children, and now his wife Abla, who has been a prominent international spokesperson for the Campaign, as well as a Palestinian feminist organizer, is prohibited from family visits.
Events and actions took place in France, Italy and Ireland in solidarity with Ahmad Sa’adat and Palestinian prisoners on January 15. Please see below for updates and reports!
Italy:
In Italy, Fronte Palestina organized a national day of action in cities across the country in solidarity with Ahmad Sa’adat and all Palestinian prisoners. Events were organized in Milan, Padua, Salerno, Rome, Turin, Viareggio, Pisa and Florence, including demonstrations, information tables, sit-ins, and presentations and discussions on the struggle of Palestinian political prisoners. Many of these events screened the film “Women in Struggle,” focusing on the lives and experiences of Palestinian women held in Israeli jails as political prisoners.
In Milan, a demonstration on Largo Cairoli demanded freedom for Ahmad Sa’adat and Palestinian prisoners, condemning the role of imperialism and Zionism:
In Turin, a presentation and discussion on the campaign to free Palestinian prisoners was held at Communardi Bookshop:
In Pisa, a sit-in was organized at the university cafeteria:
In Padua, organizers tabled with information and displays on the situation of Palestinian prisoners:
Ireland
In Dublin, Ireland, eirigi activists and supporters organized a solidarity vigil outside the Israeli embassy, demanding freedom for Ahmad Sa’adat and all Palestinian prisoners, carrying Palestinian and Irish flags:
France
In Toulouse, France, anti-imperialist collective Coup Pour Coup 31 organized an information table and literature distribution on Palestinian political prisoners and the case of Ahmad Sa’adat outside Jean Jaures metro station:
Our solidarity and support to all of these organizations and activists who took action to free Palestinian prisoners and the national leader Ahmad Sa’adat! We encourage others to hold their own events.
Use the form to let the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat know about your local action or email us at campaign@freeahmadsaadat.org. We will list your events on the Campaign website and publicize them.
Suggested actions:
- Protest at your local Israeli consulate or embassy demanding freedom for Palestinian political prisoners.
- Protest at official Palestinian embassies and missions demanding an end to security coordination.
- Phone Palestinian officials at the embassy in your country and call for an end to security coordination with Israel.
- Distribute flyers or handbills about Ahmad Sa’adat and Palestinian prisoners, and security cooperation
- Post or drop a banner calling for freedom for Ahmad Sa’adat and Palestinian prisoners in your city.
- Hold a forum or educational event on Ahmad Sa’adat and Palestinian prisoners’ struggle.
