[Marxism] Appeal for support for TAli Fatima, Israeli political prisoner

[Einde O'Callaghan <einde@xxxxxx>]

I've been asked to circulate this appeal for Tali Fatima, an Israeli
political prisoner. I've removed the Hebrew version (which my computer
system doesn't support anyway).

Einde O'Callaghan

Subject: [taayush-north] Tali Fahima update and appeal
From: taayush-north@xxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2004 07:59:56 -0800 (PST)
To: taayush-north@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dear Friends,

After Tali Fahima was arrested no pretext could be found to put her on
trial for her acts and humanitarian objectives in Jenin.  She was
instead sentenced to Administrative Detention.

This despite the fact that administrative detention is not justice.  It
is instead a mockery of justice.  The only people who are privy to
witnesses, evidence, and the precise charges against the accused during
the hearings for administrative detention are the judge and the
prosecution, the latter being the representatives of the ‘shabak’
(i.e., General Security Service).  All the apparatus of a fair trial
are denied the accused and his/her lawyer.  In short,
administrative-detention hearings not only deny the accused due process
of the law, but also by denying the accused the paraphernalia for
defending oneself, administrative detention in effect judges a person
guilty until proven innocent.

On top of this, the 4 months incarceration period of administrative
detention can be extended over and over ad infinitum after the
completion of each period of imprisonment.

Despite this miscariage of justice, Tali Fahima has remained nearly
alone in her battle for justice, especially as regards her financial
burden for legal expenses. Tali and her mother are not wealthy.

Money is also needed for a petition that was published.  A small group
of activists who believe in Tali has tried to help her in various ways.
  Their activities included circulating a petition and publishing it
twice in Ha’aretz (one of Israel’s 3 major newspapers).  Tali’s
supporters hoped in this way to stir public opinion against her being
held in administrative detention.  Unfortunately, their endeavors did
not succeed.  Moreover, although 700 signed the petition, only a few of
the signatories sent money to defray the costs of publishing the
petition. Yet payment has to be made.

  I call on all who identify with Tali and support her cause (whether
you signed the petition or not) to donate now, however much you can,
to help both cover the cost of the newspaper notice and defray Tali’s
legal expenses.

I also call on the Peace and Human Rights organizations to rally their
forces to free Tali, now decaying in prison, with the possibility of
her term being extended.  Let us all show solidarity and work together
to free Tali Fahima.

Donations by check should be made out to ‘Mateh Hacoalitziah,’ and sent
to PO Box 1335 Kfar Saba.  Send bank transfers or bank checks to Bank
Hapoalim, Branch 679, Account 119442.

Thank you.  Sincerely,

Yakov Manor

  ==============================

To those who have forgotten: Tali Fahima is still in prison.

The Legal Situation

The High Court has not yet handed down its judgment regarding Tali
Fahima’s petition against her administrative detention.   As you may
recall, during the hearings held a month ago, the judge offered Tali
the possibility of serving her term of adminstrative detention in house
arrest instead of incarceration in prison.  However, the offer was made
on the condition that Tali be under guard 24 hours a day by someone
selected by the military, at her expense.  That is to say, she would be
obliged to pay for the guard.

Negotiations between the family and the State revealed that the minimum
requirements would cost 30,000.00 shekel per month—a sum which the
family does not have nor can raise!

Tali refused the conditions, and informed the court of her decision.
Her case is still pending, while Tali meanwhile is in prison.

Support Tali with letters

Tali has asked us to thank all those who have written her.  Tali
receives the letters you send, and wants you to know that they are very
important to her, because, apart from her contact with her lawyers,
letters are almost the sole human contact she has with the outside
world.  The only person to visit her besides her lawyers is her mother,
whose visits the authorities restrict to once in two weeks.  Tali
prefers not to answer letters from prison, because her mail is read and
censored by the prison authorities, and at times is not even sent.  But
she is nevertheless greatly appreciative of receiving your letters.

Send your letters to

Tali Fahima

Naveh Tirtza Prison

POBox 7

Ramleh, Israel


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