There are at present 8 women political prisoners in the Israeli jails: 6 are held in Hasharon Prison and two in detention centers.
Hasharon Prison (Tel Mond)
Detainee on a hunger strike
Hanaa Shalabi, from Borkin, Jenin district, was released in October 2011 in the prisoners exchange deal for Shalit. On 16 February 2012, the Israeli occupation forces entered her home at night and arrested her again. Her detention was very violent: a soldier beat her seriously because she said that only a woman soldier is allowed to arrest her.
She was brought to Hasharon Prison, and the Israeli authorities placed her under administrative detention for six months. On the day of her arrest, 16 February 2012, Hanaa began an open-ended hunger strike, demanding the end to administrative detentions, to the violent arrests and violence in interrogations.
On 4 March the Israeli Military Court decided to shorten her administrative detention order from six months to four months. Hanaa is determined to continue her hunger strike.
On 20 February 2012 the prison authorities separated Hanaa from the other women political prisoners and transferred her to the wing of criminal detainees. On 28 February 2012, she was returned to the political prisoners' wing.
Many activities took place in protest of Hanaa Shalabi's arrest:
Since her arrest, her parents went on a hunger strike and set up a protest tent in front of their home in Borkin.
There were many demonstrations all over the world, in protes of Hanaa's arrest, among them: demonstration in front of the Hasharon Prison (Tel Mond), demonstrations in Nazareth, Sfa'amru, Haifa, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, London.
The demand for her release was a main issue on Women Day on 8 March 2012. The Women Day demonstration in Qalandya checkpoint demanded to free Hanaa Shalabi. The Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas and stun grenades on the demonstrators.
Hanaa's lawyers submitted an appeal against her arrest that was heard in the Military Court on 7 March 2012. Her father came to the Military Court, but the Israeli authorities refused to let him see Hana, even from a distance.
Until today, 19 March 2012, there is no decision. Hanaa is determined to continue the hunger strike until her release. Today is the 33th day of Hanaa's hunger strike. On 14 and on 18 March 2012, WOFPP's lawyer visited her and reported that her health is deteriorating. On March 18, Hanaa's health condition has deteriorated so much that she could not go out to meet the lawyer.
An urgent call to release Hanaa
Family visits
Alaa Juabi, 18 years old, from Hebron, was arrested on 7 December 2011. Her family has asked, more than two moths ago, for permission to visit her but, until now, the Israeli authorities have not answered their request. Without the permission, they are prohibited from visiting her.
Released prisoners
After the release of women political prisoners in the Shalit exchange, the prison authorities did not transfer personal belongings to the prisoners.
WOFPP's lawyer sent a letter to the prison authorities and, after they agreed to move all belongings to the released prisoners, she arranged transportation, and the released women political prisoner received their belongings.
'Aysha Ghanayem,
from Hebron was arrested on 23 February and released on 1 March 2012
ASHKELON DETENTION CENTER
Released detainee
Mofiqa Qauasma, 25 years old, mother of three, from Hebron, was arrested on 20 February 2012.
On 5 March 2012, WOFPP's lawyer Taghreed Jahashan, wanted to visit her but the prison authorities told her that an order that forbade meeting with a lawyer for 24 hours was issued against Mofiqa. On the next day, 6 March, the prison authorities told WOFPP's lawyer that the order was extended until midnight of 7 March. Mofiqa was released on 8 March 2012.
RUSSIAN COMPOUND DETENTION CENTER (MOSKOBIA)
Released prisoner
Mona Abu Snena,
from Hebron, had been arrested for more than a week.
'Aliya el'Abasi,
46 years old, from Silwan neighborhood in Jerusalem, was arrested on 2 January 2012 and released on 23 February 2012 to home detention on bail of 7.500 NIS that was deposited and 14.000 NIS, for which four people have signed.
For donations to WOFPP
:
Bank account:
Women's Organization for Political Prisoners (WOFPP)
Account number: 471067
BANK HAPOALIM
Branch 532
Daniel Frisch St. 3,Tel Aviv 64078, ISRAEL
IBAN number: IL 60-0125-3200-0000-0471-067
BIC (swift): POALILIT
Address to receive the contribution:
WOFPP
Frug Street 30
Tel Aviv 63417, ISRAEL