[E-rundbrief] Info 1043 - Petition Freedom Theatre in Jenin/ Palestine

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 1043 - Petition The Freedom Theatre in Jenin (West 
Bank/ Palestine) must live!

Bad Ischl, 8.9.2011

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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THE FREEDOM THEATRE IN JENIN MUST LIVE !

Sunday 4 September 2011 by Les rédacteurs

PETITION

Juliano Mer Khamis was assassinated April 4, 2011 in front of the 
Freedom Theatre in Jenin, West Bank, the theatre he founded in 2006 to 
continue the work of his mother Arna with the youth of the refugee 
camp. The theatre has allowed many young Palestinians to resist 
violence and oppression imposed on them by Israeli occupying forces, 
to externalise their fears, to overcome their isolation and have 
confidence in themselves.

Born of an Israeli Jewish mother and a Palestinian father from 
Nazareth, director of the film "Arna’s Children," Juliano Mer Khamis 
joined the movement to boycott the State of Israel, including on a 
cultural level, until it complies with international law. After his 
assassination, the Israeli authorities seized his car, computer and 
cell phone, then from the end of July they began to use his Israeli 
citizenship as a pretext to investigate and then launch an offensive 
to break the Freedom Theatre and cause it’s closure.

On July 27, the Israeli army violently attacked the theatre during the 
night, causing serious damage. Using the arbitrary and brutal regime 
of "administrative detention", they arrested two Palestinian officials 
from the theatre, Bilal Naghnaghiye and Adnan Saadi, whom they then 
considered murder suspects. Then for the same reason, Hwayel Rami, who 
is a Palestinian student actor from the Freedom Theatre, was stopped 
at a checkpoint. He was preparing to be the lead role in the play 
"Waiting for Godot."

On August 21, all three detainees were exonerated but Hwayel Rami, on 
the pretext that he had previously been in Israel without 
authorisation, was sentenced to one month imprisonment, causing the 
cancellation of the first performances of the play.
On August 22, the Israeli army again attacked the Freedom Theatre and 
arrested Mohammed Naghnaghhiye, brother of Adnan, ransacking his 
apartment inside the theatre building. Since, the occupation 
authorities continue to harass other members of Freedom Theatre.

This behaviour of an occupying power is contrary to the conventions on 
human rights and international law. It must stop! What would happen if 
France were to carry out such measures in another country on the 
pretext of wanting to investigate the assassination of one of its 
citizens in that country? A group of actors from the Freedom Theatre, 
invited by the “Friends of the Freedom Theatre in Jenin”, had just 
completed a successful tour of France, playing from late June to mid 
July, as part of the 23rd festival of young European theatre in 
Grenoble. Two major tours are planned in Germany and the United States 
this fall.

The Freedom Theatre in Jenin must be able to continue its emancipatory 
work in favour of young people and Palestinians at large! We therefore 
demand:
1. The cessation of all attacks against the Freedom Theatre and its 
members.
2. The release of any person related to the theatre who is being 
charged or imprisoned by the occupying Israeli authorities.
3. The implication of the Palestinian judicial authorities to conduct 
an investigation into the assassination of Juliano Mer Khamis.
4. Compensation by the Israeli authorities for the damage they caused 
during their attacks on July 27 and August 22.
5. Complete freedom of movement for members of the Freedom Theatre, 
whether in Palestine, Israel or elsewhere.

We further request that countries enjoying diplomatic relations with 
Israel commit their relevant authorities to demand that this State 
satisfies each of these five points. In particular, for France: the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which published a tribute to Juliano Mer 
Khamis after his assassination, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry 
of Interior and the Israeli Embassy. August 30, 2011

     "There is no freedom without knowledge There is no peace without 
freedom. Peace and freedom are inseparable " Arna Mer Khamis

Sign the petition: 
http://www.solidaritefreedomtheatrejenine.com/spip.php?article1&lang=fr

Informations on the Freedom Theatre: www.thefreedomtheatre.org

If you would like to contribute to paying the heavy lawyer’s fees and 
support the Freedom Theatre, you can :
- send a check made out to ATL Jénine, Les Amis du Théâtre de la 
Liberté de Jénine, boite aux lettres 84, 15 passage Ramey, 75018 Paris
- or make a safe transfer by credit card on the Freedom Theatre 
website : www.thefreedomtheatre.org E-mail contact in France : 
theatrejenine at yahoo.fr

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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
Wolfgangerstr. 26, A-4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
Impressum in: http://www.begegnungszentrum.at
Spenden-Konto Nr. 0600-970305 (Blz. 20314) Sparkasse Salzkammergut,
Geschäftsstelle Pfandl
IBAN: AT922031400600970305 BIC: SKBIAT21XXX

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Honoured by the (Austrian) "Journalism-Award from below 2010"