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http://popularstruggle.org Clouds of repression over my release Dear It's a Slowly breathing in the newly gained air of freedom into my lungs was the first thing I did when I finally stepped out of the Israeli military prison. As you may know, I was recently released from prison, where I was held for nearly a year and a half for the crime of organizing peaceful demonstrations against the illegal construction of Israel's wall on lands belonging to my village – Bil'in. While I am now free, others like me remain in jail and we need your help to stand by them. I am writing to thank everyone for all the support I received from ordinary people like during my incarceration. It was this support that kept me going and it is this support that brought the international community to condemn my persecution. But a dark cloud has come over my release. While I am now back at home, getting to know my two daughters and baby son again, two other leading protest organizers have lately been put behind bars. My friends Naji and Bassem Tamimi from the village of Nabi Saleh are now facing similar charges to the ones I was imprisoned for and I feel we all must do everything that is within our power to secure their quick release. The case against both Naji and Bassem is based on coerced confessions of teenagers taken at gunpoint from their beds in the middle of the night by Israeli soldiers. The main "evidence" against them is the testimony of a 14 year-old who was beaten up on his arrest, denied legal consul, denied his right to have his parents present during his questioning and instead of being told by his interrogators of his right to remain silent, he was told that "it is better you tell the truth". I am asking for your help - for you to raise your voice against Israel's attempt to quash peaceful grassroots organizing in the West Bank. I have already paid a personal price for my activism – most of all, I missed 16 months of my children's lives. It is time for us to stop paying this price and we need your help to do so. Please consider making a donation towards Bassem and Naji Tamimi's legal defense and/or sending an email to your Minister of Foreign Affairs to ask that he acts for their release. Sincerely
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