Mousa Abu Maria released from prison after 14 months!!!!!
After 14 months in Israeli prison with no charge, evidence, or fair trial, nonviolent activist, organizer, and community leader Mousa Abu Maria has been released. He was originally dragged to prison and put in “administrative detention” in April of 2008. An appeal for his release reached the Israeli Supreme Court, but judges denied a petition to review “secret” evidence against him (none was ever presented) and ruled that he would remain in detention with no trial. He is now free, home, and in relatively good health (unlike his last trip to administrative detention, which landed him in the hospital for 3 weeks after release).
I am incredibly happy to hear the news of Mousa’s release, and also very aware of the astronomical costs that accumulated legal fees for Mousa and other activists have on a small organization like the Palestine Solidarity Project, of which he is one of the leaders. I’m planning on giving a donation in honor of his release, and would encourage you to do the same, although I know times are tight!
Below is a press release from PSP about Mousa’s release, and couple of pictures.
According to B’tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, there are still at least 449 Palestinians being held in administrative detention, without charge or trial. Nevertheless, Mousa’s release is one step closer to a day in which all of these captives are free. This is cause for celebration!
(Picture of Mousa taken when our Sabeel Witness Visit went to Beit Ommar in fall of 2008)
(Sabeel Witness Visit group picture in Beit Ommar, fall 2008)
Mousa Abu Maria Released From Prison
After 1 year, 2 months, and 3 days without charge, trial, or evidence, Mousa Abu Maria, co-founder of the Palestine Solidarity Project, was released last night from Ofer prison. He was welcomed home by family and friends and a nice array of fireworks. PSP is very excited for the return of one of its lead organizers. Mousa reports being held for periods of time in isolation by the Israeli security services when he refused to serve as a spy for the Israeli government, but is otherwise in good health.
PSP and Mousa would like to express our deepest thanks to the hundreds of people who wrote letters of support, donated money to his legal fund, and kept updated about his incarceration, and to the thousands of people who watched the video of Mousa, read articles written about him in three different countries, and supported the work that he did and will continue to do.
woo hooooo!!!! Hallelujah!
YAAAYYYY! So glad to hear this!
-Mali
Hoorray!!!