There are, at present, about 115 women political prisoners in the Israeli jails. In Hasharon Prison (Tel Mond) about 105, the rest in Neve Tirza Prison (Ramle) and in several detention centers.
Hasharon Prison (Tel Mond)
The windows in the cells still cannot be opened because they remain covered with metal sheets. The heat and the lack of air in the cells are unbearable. The prison authorities do not supply any fans or ventilators. The prisoners buy fans in the canteen, but many fans are out of order after a short period. As a result, there are cells without any fans at all. WOFPP applied to ACRI (Association for Citizens' Rights in Israel) to submit an appeal against the prison authorities, demanding to remove the permanent window coverings.
The dental clinic is very dirty, and the dental health care is still totally insufficient. The treatment given in most cases consists of extracting teeth, and sometimes even this treatment is done incorrectly, and prisoners suffer from complications after the extraction.
There are women who continuously suffer from fungus and have done so for a long time. The prisoners demanded that a dermatologist woman doctor examine them. The prison authorities invited a male dermatologist, but the prisoners refused to be examined by him.
According to the procedure, mothers whose babies stay with them in prison are allowed to go out to the prison yard for longer periods then the limited hours of the recreation time (the duration of recreation time is 1-3 hours). Recently, Samar Sbih with her son Baraa and Khaula Zitawi with her daughter Ghada were not allowed to go out to the yard, except during the recreation time.
Ahlam elTamimi, Taghreed elSa'adi and Sanaa Shhade were transferred back from Kishon Detention Center (Jalame) to Hasharon Prison on 19 June.
Ahlam elTamimi, 24 years old, from Ramallah. The hearing of her appeal to the court, asking to be permitted to meet her imprisoned husband, will take place in the beginning of September 2007.
Samar Sbih, 22 years old, from Gaza, (at the time of arrest she lived in Tulkarm), mother of baby Baraa who stays with her in prison: Her appeal to the court for an early release was rejected on 17 June in the district court in Tel Aviv.
New prisoners
Fatmah elZuk, from Gaza, pregnant, mother of 8 children, was arrested, together with her niece, in May 2007, when they were waiting at Erez barrier. During 18 days she endured harsh interrogations in Ashqelon Detention Center.
After she was transferred to Hasharon Prison, she was brought to hospital to be examined. For this purpose the prison authorities shackled her hands and legs, her hands remaining shackled even during the examinations by the physician.
Rawda Habib, from Gaza, Fathmah's niece, mother of 4 children. She also underwent harsh interrogations during 18 days in Ashqelon Detention Center.
Maha el'Aaradeh, from 'Arabeh in Jenin district, mother of two children, 4 and 5 years old. The first 12 days after her arrest she was held in Neve Tirza Prison (Ramle), and every day the authorities brought her to Salem Interrogation Center for interrogations. After the interrogations she was transferred to Hasharon Prison (Tel Mond). On 5 June 2007, when she was at a hearing in court, the warden forbade her to speak with her son. After the hearing she was held alone in a closed room for hours. On the way back, the warden fastened the shackles so tightly that her legs began to bleed.
Sentences
Shirin Swidan, from Qalqilya, mother of two children, was arrested on 7 September 2006 and sentenced to three years imprisonment.
Shirin Haj Hasin, from Qalqilya, was arrested on 19 September 2006 and sentenced to 22 months.
Nidaa elRamahi, from Nablus, was arrested on 21 September 2006 and sentenced to 18 months.
Duaa Haj Hasin, from Nablus, was arrested on 27 September 2006 and sentenced to 20 months.
Hkatam Yasin, from 'Asira elQabaliya, was arrested on 19 March and sentenced to 5 months.
Ahlam Qamiz, was sentenced to 15 months and a fine of 2000 NIS.
Neve Tirza Prison (Ramle)
Amneh Muna, 29 years old, from Jerusalem, has been held in separation already for more than ten months. She is kept 23 hours a day in a very small cell infested with large numbers of cockroaches and insects. She is forbidden to meet any other prisoner. The authorities gave her back her books and notebooks.
Kishon Detention Center (Jalame)
Banan Abu elHija, from Jenin, 21 years old, a student of law at the American University in Jenin, was arrested on 28 May 2007 and released on 19 June 2007.
She was held in an underground cell without windows, and all the walls inside were black. During 24 hours a day there was a red light in the cell. The food, though eatable, was insufficient. She underwent harsh interrogations during long hours, day and night, especially when she was tired. During the interrogations her hands and legs were tied to the chair.
All Banan's family members, except her little brother and sister, were in prison. Her mother, Asmaa Abu elHija was an administrative prisoner in Neve Tirza Prison (Ramle) for about nine months. Her father, Jamal Abu elHija, and three brothers are still in prison.
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