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Etaf 'Alyan was released on 23 October 2008

Free 'Etaf 'Alyan!

     'Etaf ‘Alyan, a previous longtime prisoner, had been held in Israeli prisons over 10 years at different times.

She was first arrested on 2 August 1987. The state of Israel charged her with membership in a “hostile organization”, and she was sentenced to four years.

At the beginning she was held in the Russian Compound. On 27 September 1987, five policemen (including one with a stick) beat her in her cell, leaving her bleeding and with a broken nose. The following day, 'Etaf was brought to hospital where a doctor determined that she needed an operation on her nose. Since that time she has had serious respiratory difficulties. As a result of a legal struggle and international pressure, 'Etaf was finally operated on after three years.

'Etaf filed a complaint against the policemen. Later, in court, she found out that her complaint was ignored, and that she was being accused of cursing the policeman who broke her nose.

Later, 'Etaf was transferred to Neve Tirza Prison. There the Israeli female criminal prisoners constantly harassed the political prisoners, hitting them and pouring hot water and urine on them with the encouragement of the guards. Once, when 'Etaf asked a guard for water, she received water in a glass filled with cigarette butts and dirt. In July 1988, after one of these incidents between criminal and political women prisoners, 'Etaf and one other woman, Iman Serhan, were moved to an isolation section. A few days later, when a guard came with their food, there was a confrontation. Iman and 'Etaf were accused of attacking and trying to choke the guard. 'Etaf claimed that she had only acted in self-defense. Following the incident in the prison both were tortured and were charged with "attempted murder". They were sentenced to ten years in prison in addition to their original prison sentences.

'Etaf 'Alyan was released on 10 February 1997 together with all women political prisoners. In the Oslo agreement Israel promised to release all the Palestinian political prisoners, however Israel refused to release four of them. The release took place after a steadfast struggle: all the women prisoners refused to be released if any woman would remain in prison. They went on a hunger strike and refused to leave their cells.

After her release 'Etaf 'Alyan started to establish social projects in Bethlehem: a center for women, and a kindergarten.

She was re-arrested on 20 October 1997 while traveling on a Palestinian bus between Bethlehem and Abu-Dis, two towns that formally were under Palestinian jurisdiction. Israeli soldiers stopped the bus at a checkpoint, kidnapped 'Etaf and held her under an administrative detention order for three months.

Administrative detention means that the detainee is being held without charge or trial, and the detention can be extended at will without any limit. On 22 October 1997 'Etaf 'Alyan went on an open hunger strike that continued for 45 days, demanding her release. After about two months she was released.

In the course of the second Intifada, on 30 December 2002, Etaf 'Alyan was arrested again. At the beginning she was held in Etzion detention center near Bethlehem under very harsh conditions. Etaf was the only woman in this detention center where there were no facilities for women. On 30 January she was transferred to Neve Tirza prison (Ramle). 'Etaf was sentenced to 9 months and released on 9 September 2003.

After her release and between the arrests, 'Etaf continued to establish social projects in Bethlehem: the kindergarten was developed into a primary school. After her marriage, she moved to Ramallah and opened an Internet Cafe for women and girls who can surf and study Internet there.

On 22 December 2005 'Etaf 'Alyan was taken from her house in Ramallah by Israeli soldiers and brought to Hasharon Prison (Tel Mond). Following an appeal, her six months' administrative detention order was reduced to four months.

On 20 February 2006 'Etaf went on a hunger strike, protesting her detention and demanding to have her baby with her. The prison authorities refused. Three days after she began the hunger strike the prison authorities transferred her to Neve Tirza Prison (Ramle). After 18 days of hunger strike, the prison authorities permitted her to have her baby with her in prison on condition that she and her baby remain in Neve Tirza, separated from the prisoners in Hasharon Prison.

On 26 April 2006, the day 'Etaf 'Alyan was supposed to be released, the Defence Ministry issued an order to extend her administrative detention for another 4 months. Following an apeal submitted by 'Etaf 'Alyan's lawyer Muhamad ‘Amara and advocate Tamar Peleg, the order was reduced to three months. In June she was transfered back to Hasharon prison.

On 26 July, her administrative detention was extended again for another three months.

In August she was formally charged with organizing summer camps for young girls. The judge in the military court ordered to release her on bail until the end of the legal procedure. The Israeli Authorities refused to release her, as she is still under administrative detention order.

Due to WOFPP's lawyer Taghreed Jahshan's petition to the prison authorities, 'Etaf 'Alyan was permitted to keep her daughter with her until 25 October, the day her administrative detention was to be terminated, even though the child had reached the age of 2 years, when children have to leave their mother in prison and are handed over to the family.

On 23 October 'Etaf's administrative detention was extended for another six months. A few days after the issue of the order, 'Etaf 'Alyan's daughter, Aysha, was handed over to the child's father. All the members of 'Etaf's family are prevented from visiting the prison; therefore there is nobody to bring the child to visit her.