There are, at present, about 120 women political prisoners in the Israeli jails. In Hasharon Prison (Tel Mond) about 105, the rest in Neve Tirza Prison (Ramle), in Kishon Detention Center (Jalame near Haifa) and several more in other detention centers.
The policy of transferring the prisoners from one prison to another is still continuing. As before, the prison authorities do not inform either the prisoners' families or the lawyers.
Family visits. There are many prisoners whose family members are all prohibited from visiting in prison. The prohibition comes either from the prison authority or from the Israeli army.
For example Shirin Khalil, arrested on 13 July 2003, has no family visits; Rifqa elJa’abri, arrested in August 2006, has no family visits; ‘Etaf ‘Alyan was arrested in December 2005. Until now only her mother was allowed to visit her, and this only once.
Letters. In recent months the women political prisoners have hardly received any letters. Usually the letters from their families take about three months to arrive. The letters from abroad either take a very long time or do not arrive at all.
Canteen accounts. The Israeli authorities unblocked prisoners' canteen accounts but limited the sum of the money in each account. Because of the bad economic situation the women prisoners have very little money. The prisoners have to buy all the cleaning products in the canteen. Moreover, in the last years the food in prison has deteriorated in quantity as well as quality; therefore the prisoners need the canteen in order to buy basic food products.
Hasharon Prison (Tel Mond)
The prisoners do not have enough blankets for the winter. There is no heating in the cells.
The International Red Cross visited the women political prisoners and brought them dictionaries, training suits, socks and sport games.
Suna elRa'I: She asked for a specialist out of prison and the prison authorities refused.
Royda Fritakh Al'oijen was deported to Jordan on 29/1/2007. She is a Jordanian citizen, arrested at the beginning of August together with her husband. For more than six years she had been living in the West Bank with her husband who is a citizen of the West Bank and her son who is now six years old. Six years ago she requested to obtain a legal status in order to remain with her husband in the West Bank, but the Israeli Authorities never answered her request. At the beginning of September, about a month after her arrest, the Israeli Authorities tried to deport her to Jordan, but did not succeed because her Jordanian passport was not valid. Her lawyer appealed to the High Court against the deportation. The High Court refused the appeal and confirmed the deportation order.
Nasrin Abu Zina. 19 years old, from Tulkarem, and Rawya elShaikh, 21 years old, from Tulkarm refugee camp, were sentenced recently to 3 months in prison and 15 months on condition. They were accused of attacking two wardens half year ago.
‘Abeer ‘Amru, 24 years old, from Dura (Hebron district), had been held in separation detention for over a month.
New Prisoners in Hasharon Prison
Khaola, from Jam'ain, Nablus district: Following her request, her 8 months old daughter, Ghada, was brought to her. The baby fell sick and was transferred to a hospital for three days. Khaola, her mother, who stayed with her in hospital, was shackled on her legs for the whole period.
Hiam elBaiad, was being held in Mosqobia in very harsh conditions; in protest she went on a hunger strike. On 22 January 2007 she was transferred to Hasharon.
Aiat elDababasa, 15 years old, from Hebron
Roba elTalid, 20 years old, a student in elNajah University
A woman from Jerusalem is being held in a separation wing.
Neve Tirza Prison (Ramle)
There are four women political prisoners in Neve Tirza.
The cells of the political prisoners are near those of the criminal prisoners who shout and swear at them and threaten to pour hot water at them. A few times the political prisoners were afraid to go to recreation in the prison yard.
Amne Muna, 29 years old, from Jerusalem, was transferred from Kishon Detention Center (Jalame) to Neve Tirza (Ramle) on 22 January. She has been held and continues being held in separation detention for more than five months. WOFPP’S lawyer, Taghreed Jahshan, took from her an affidavit concerning the conditions of her detention including the separation. She is kept 23 hours a day in a very small cell (2m x 2.5m), and she is forbidden to meet any other prisoner.
‘Aisha ‘Abyat and Sanaa ‘Amru were transferred to Neve Tirza a month ago; they do not know when they will be transferred back to Hasharon Prison.
Kishon Detention Center (Jalame)
Nasreen Abu Zina, 19 years old, from Tulkarem, and Hala Jaber, 27 years old, from Jenin Refugee Camp were transferred again from Neve Tirza prison to Kishon Detention Center (Jalame).
There are five prisoners in Kishon (Jalame) who are constantly being transferred from one prison to another. Their families cannot visit them, because they are not informed where they are being held.
Military Prison
Hadas Amit, 19 years old, has been sentenced to 21 more days in military prison, on18 February for refusing to serve in the Israeli army. This is the fifth consecutive prison term for Hadas. She has now been sentenced to a total of 73 days in prison.
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