Palestinian mothers urge the release of their sons

By Samer Khuwayera & Ola Attallah, IOL Correspondents

NABLUS, October 19 (IslamOnline.net) – Despite their harsh conditions, Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails seize the opportunity of Ramadan to spend a month-long spiritual journey, hoping it would help them endure the harshness of detention.

They spend days and nights of the holy month of fasting in reciting the Noble Qur’an, practicing religious and cultural activities.

Their families, meanwhile, pray and keep dreaming of the day their beloved ones will be released.

“As Ramadan begins, all [Palestinian] factions in Israeli prisons issue strict regulations banning those who don’t fast from eating in public in respect of the holy month,” the spokesman for the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli Ofra jail, Aka Abul Nour told IslamOnline.net Monday, October 18.

He said the Palestinian prisoners spend the dawn-to-dusk fasting month performing religious sermons.

“The daily program begins before dawn by awakening all prisoners to take their suhur.”

“After eating suhur, all detainees perform the dawn prayers, and listen to a short religious lesson. Then, some prisoners go to bed while others memorize verses from the Noble Qur’an.”

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have in August begun a hunger strike, protesting their deplorable prison conditions, demanding mandatory visitation rights as well as an end to “humiliating” strip searches and the removal of glass barriers in visitation rooms.

Activities

Abul Nour said the Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails also hold discussions on all issues on concern during the month of fasting.

“After performing the Duha (morning) prayers, prisoners sit together in separate groups to recite chapters of the Noble Qur’an.”

“Following that, they practice hobbies they prefer, then sit together once again to talk about the suffering of the Palestinian people or any other issue of concern.”

Abul Nour added the program of the Palestinian detainees includes political and educational activities.

“The cultural committee of the Palestinian prisoners in the jail has a program on giving educational and political lectures over the holy month.”

“The cultural committee also provides religious, scientific, political and cultural books to encourage reading among detainees before they take a nap after performing the noon prayer.”

He also added that the detainees practice different athletic games to keep their physical fitness.

Abul Nour noted the prisoners sit together after the Tarawih prayers to hold discussions on all issues of concern.

Children Hope

As the detainees observe Ramadan behind Israeli bars, their children spend the dawn-to-dusk fasting month praying to see their fathers back once again.

“I wish to spend the holy month of Ramadan with my father and sit together at the breakfast table and perform the dawn prayers,” Heba, 11, daughter of Palestinian prisoner Farag Al-Rumahi from Gaza Strip, told IOL.

“All my friends speak about spending the beautiful nights of Ramadan with their fathers, while I was deprived from such beautiful moments as my father has been held behind bars since I was born.”

Ramadan Lantern

Waiting for a father and a homeland

Other Palestinian children said they wish to perform the Tarawih prayers with their fathers.

“I wish to see my father spending Ramadan with us and taking me out to buy the Ramadan lantern,” said Wassel, 4, son of Palestinian detainee Khalid Khattab.

Ahmed, 9, son of prisoner Mahmoud Al-Rak highlights the same feelings.

“I hope I can see my father out of prison, go with him to perform the Tarawih prayers, visit our relatives and play together as other kids do.”

Sabrine, 14, daughter of Palestinian prisoner Jamil Al-Baz said she has not seen her father for 14 years.

“For 14 years, my father has been held in the occupation prisons. I wish he would be released soon to sit together on the breakfast table waiting for the Adhan (call for prayers) as other families do.”

“I have been waiting for my father for 13 years. I remember him every Ramadan and Eid,” said Afnan, daughter of prisoner Jalal Sakr, who was handed a life sentence in Israeli prisons.