SIGN THE PETITION!
Zakaria Zubeidi, co-founder of The Freedom Theatre and central figure of the Palestinian resistance, has been held in Palestinian Authority prison since May 13. No charges or evidence of wrongdoing have been presented against him and he has been severely mistreated.
On Sept 17 his detention was extended another 19 days and as a response, Zakaria Zubeidi has resumed a complete food and fluid strike. He only has days to live. We the undersigned urge President Abbas to take immediate steps to ensure Zakaria Zubeidi’s release. We ask the President to ensure that Palestinian law is upheld in this matter, as well as in all other matters involving illegal imprisonment or treatment of prisoners.
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The Palestinian Authority Judicial system, with the full knowledge of the consequences of their actions, is condemning Zakaria Zubeidi to death. Zakaria Zubeidi has after severe mistreatment during interrogations, several court appearances over the last four months and without any charges or evidence presented against him, decided to resume a complete food and fluid strike that gives him only a few more days to live.
Mr Zubeidi’s is known worldwide as a leader of lawful cultural resistance and we are outraged at his current treatment, which is designed to circumvent Palestinian law. Mr Zubeidi has been juggled between military and civilian legal systems and has for long periods of time been held at facilities run by the Palestinian Preventative Security Forces, with his case handled by the Military Prosecutor’s Office. This is despite Mr Zubeidi’s civilian status, and the limit imposed by Palestinian law, which says detention by the Preventative Security forces, must be limited to 24 hours. Mr Zubeidi is imprisoned in Jericho despite the fact that he has been interrogated in connection to an incident that took place in Jenin. We believe this is also illegal according to Palestinian law. Furthermore Mr Zubeidi was arrested without a warrant and his family was not notified until several days later.
Most recently Human Rights Watch issued the following statement: “”For more than four months, the PA has violated Zubeidi’s basic due process rights to be charged and tried, and continues to ignore his statements that interrogators tortured him. The PA’s foreign donors should urgently pressure it to end the impunity and arbitrary detentions that Zubeidi’s case exemplifies and that he is risking his life to protest.”
We call upon you to take urgent steps to ensure Zakaria Zubeidi’s immediate release from punitive detention, and to ensure a fair trial for any allegations for which there is sufficient evidence to stand up in court.
We ask you to ensure that Palestinian law is upheld in this matter, as well as in all other matters involving illegal imprisonment or treatment of prisoners.
Petition Letter
Greetings,
I just signed the following petition addressed to: President Mahmoud Abbas.
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Free Zakaria Zubeidi!
Zakaria Zubeidi, co-founder of The Freedom Theatre and central figure of the Palestinian resistance, has been held in Palestinian Authority prison since May 13. No charges or evidence of wrongdoing have been presented against him and he has been severely mistreated. On Sept 17 his detention was extended another 19 days and as a response, Zakaria Zubeidi has resumed a complete food and fluid strike. He only has days to live. We urge President Abbas to take immediate steps to ensure Zakaria Zubeidi’s release.
