Free Issa Amro !/Letter to the UN Secretary General, mr A. Guterres
FREE ISSA AMRO !/LETTER TO THE UN SECRETARY, MR GUTERRES
SEE ALSO
https://www.astridessed.nl/free-issa-amroletter-to-the-un-secretary-mr-guterres/
TO
THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL
MR. A. GUTERRES
Subject :
Please use your influence on the Israeli
authorities to drop charges against mr Issa
Amro, non violent champion of the
rightful struggle against the Israeli occupation.
Dear Mr Guterres,
I write to you on behalf of Mr Issa Amro, a Palestinian human
rights defender and known advocate of non violent resistance
against the Israeli occupation. [1]
He is the founder of ’’Youth Against Settlements’’ [2], a group
in Hebron in the Southern West Bank, that resists on non violent
basis, the illegal settlements [3],
especially the Hebron settlers, who form a small, but aggressive settler enclave in Hebron [4]
[As you know, all settlements in occupied Palestinian territories
are contrary with International Law. [5]
In february 2016 mr Amro was arrested by the Israeli military
on 18 charges [I’ll refer to that later] and this week he has to appear
before the Military Court. [6]
MILITARY LAW IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
First :
The whole idea of dragging a civilian for a military Court is not
only absurd, but pure discrimination, sincfe it only
applies to Palestinian inhabitants of the occupied territories [7].
Military Law is not to be apllied on inhabitants in Israel
or settlers in the occupied territories. [8]
That alone is a reason for you to protest at the Israeli authorities
against this outright discrimination.
THE CASE AGAINST MR ISSA AMRO
But the reason for this letter is the case against mr Issa Amro :
According to my information, at 29 february 2016, after a demonstration at 26 february, mr Issa Amro was
arrested, together with lawyer Farid al-Atrash..[9]
Atrash’s case needs your attention too, but since I have more
information about mr Amro, I write about him more elaborately.
[perhaps later I address you on behalf of Mr Atrash]
At june 2016, 18 charges were leveled against mr Amro at Ofer Military Court [10]
Not only some charges against him are ridiculous [’’insulting a soldier’’
and more of that nonsense] [11], his attorney has declared that 14 of the 18 charges are several years old an in some cases were already investigated
and closed without indictment. [12]
Human Rights organization Amnesty International called
the charges ’’baseless’’ and considers the trial as a way to
silence him and stifle his human rights work. [13]
Earlier that year [april 2016], in a statement, Amnesty International referred
to mr Issa Amro, mr Arid al-Atrash, mr Omar Barghouti, as
others, who are systematically harrassed by the Israeli government
because of their human rights work. [14]
EPILOGUE
This intimidation must come to an end.
Not only Israel is the occupying power for nearly fifty years,
spreading oppression, humiliation, and human rights
abuses in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza [15],
expanding illegal settlements by a new ’’theft’’ law you
have rightly condemned [16].
The settlers in the occupied territories, especially in Hebron,
are terrorizing the Palestinian civilian population on daily basis
[17] without them being protected by the Israeli army [which is
their obligation under the Geneva Conventions]
No, instead of protection, honest Palestinian human rights
defenders like mr Issa Amro are being arrested and intimidated.
I call on you :
Take your responsibility as the UN Secretary and call firmly on
Israel, to stop this intimidation and drop the charges against mr
Issa Amro.
And not only that :
Call firmly and decisevely on Israel, to end the occupation,
dismantle the settlements and break down the illegal
Wall. [18]
That is the only way to a true and lasting peace.
I expect you to defend International Law and take
those important steps.
Kind greetings
Astrid Essed
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
SEE FOR NOTES
https://www.astridessed.nl/free-issa-amroletter-to-the-un-secretary-mr-guterres/
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