Alhamdulillah. I am in good health. I still do not feel free, for I left Ramallah to prison and after 27 years I still see it under occupation.
Name
J
- United States
Profession
Question
Were you subjected to physical abuse during your years of imprisonment?
Answer
Yes. Especially in the first day, it was very bad; a lot of interrogation and being hit in all places, legs, hands every inch in my body and my head too.
Name
Mike
- United States
Profession
Question
You have been to many places around the world, what made you choose to go back to Palestine and to fight? What changed your path?
Answer
Because I came back to my country, the place I was born, I am part of these people. And I fight to bring peace although I was in the States and I saw how people forget the Palestinians and more than 80 percent support Israel.
We fight for our rights and our state. We are over 7 million people and we deserve degnity and peace.
Name
montesser
-
Profession
Question
what palestine in Israeli Jails need from west contres and usa?
Answer
Our prisoners need their freedom. They want peace. These people are very important for their families and they have sisters and mothers to take care of.
In the past 27 years, my father and my mother died and I was unable to see them. After I was freed I went to the semetery for three hours to read the Quran on their souls, the settlers then came to kill me.
Name
Hoda
- Canada
Profession
Question
What do you think of the recent assassination attempt of al-Rantissi?
Answer
This is a crime from Sharon. I believe that Sharon does not want peace. Palestinians are ready to sign for peace in 24 hours. Hamas and all opposition want a truce. But sharon must understand that he cannot achieve security by force. By the name of God, I ask all parties to stop this nasty war. Just peace is good for both sides.
Name
nadia
- Cuba
Profession
Question
Do you like to play any rule in Palestine authority?
Answer
Mr Arafat appoined me as his advisor for prisoners affairs. I would like to say to our friends in Cuba that I appreciate Mr Castro very much. Greetings to all Cubans, and let us work together to free the holy land and establish the Palestinian State.
Name
jule
- Australia
Profession
Question
is there any palestine die or killid in Israeli Jails ?
Answer
Yes. Many. In the past 36 years, many Palestinians died because of hunger strikes, (eating only salt and water). They had gone through many strikes asking for some rights, such as the rights for beds to sleep on, access to television or radio, etc.
Name
hanna
- Egypt
Profession
Question
How is your family now after your free ?
Answer
I have really left a small jail to a bigger one. Till now we are under occupation. My family's happiness is not complete, because I left many friends inside prisons. I am not happy because over 8000 prisoners are still inside Israeli prisons.
I lived with them inside the jail as a father, son and brother. I feel I am part of them I will feel like this until the last day of my life.
Name
lolia
- Germany
Profession
Question
Tell us more about torture in "democracy" Israeli Jails?
Answer
Democracy is a big word. In Israeli jails, if you do anything, if you open your door to see your friend in the other room, they catch you and put you in an isolation room and fine you 600 NIS. They put you in isolation for two weeks. Prisoners remain in darkness. These things take place in a seemingly "democratic" country.
Name
Falesteen
- Saudi Arabia
Profession
Student of Political Science
Question
Asslamu Alaykum Dear Brother:
I back up every step taken by the Palestinians. May Allah Subhan Wa Ta'la free Falesteen. Ameen
My question:
Should not the Palestinian cause be a Muslim cause rather than an Arab cause? Don't you think if the Muslims come foward with the the agenda of freeing Palestine along with Kashmir and Chehny, they (the Muslims) will be more successful than letting the Palestinians, the Kashmiries and the Chehens fight alone?
There are approximately 1.4 billion Muslims, and more than 32 Muslim countries, how can we get them to join our causes?
Shukran Wa JazkAllah Khair
Al Qudsu Lana, Nahnu Qadimuuna
Allaho Akbar
Answer
As Palestinians, we never look at the cause of Palestine as an Arab cause only. We always see it in the name of God, for the freedom of Muslims. We ask Allah to help us liberate Jerusalem and all of Palestine. But what shall we do with Muslim rulers? We know that the Muslim people want to fight the Israelis to liberate Palestine.
Our cause must be both Muslim and Arab.
Name
Isabelle
- Egypt
Profession
researcher
Question
Could you tell me something about relations between Palestinian political prisoners from the 48 and from the 67 areas inside Israeli jails? And do you personally feel that you all share the same struggle or that '48 Palestinians have a different struggle for justice 'inside Israel'? Thank you for addressing this question on yet another day of mourning for Palestine.
Answer
No difference in our struggle. We are the same people, we are part of them and they are part of us. They fight inside Israel and we fight in the West Bank and Gaza.
Name
meteran
- France
Profession
Question
thanks for this chance mr ahmad, and I like to ask you about your wishes now?
Answer
I wish for a just peace. Peace is good for both sides and for the children of Palestine as well as Israel.
Name
AbdeRahim
- Morocco
Profession
Question
Hello Sir,
Nice to meet courageous and truly patient people like you. May Allah accept your deeds. We all know that the struggle in Palestine especially in Jerusalem is based on religion. Do you think that human rights activists' interventions in the region are governed by the same consideration or on human considerations? Do you think that Muslim activists are doing enough to support their brethren in Palestine?
Answer
With respect to the Muslim world, activist participation is not enough. Because Jerusalem is not only for Palestinians and Arabs. It is for all Muslims.
With respect to human rights, I feel after being out of the jail that animals have rights more than the Palestinians. Human rights activists' job is not enough. There is a lot to be done so that Palestinians can live. Many Palestinians have no food, no water and no electricity.
Name
Karima
-
Profession
Question
With the rising escalation of violence in Gaza, how do you view the direction in which the Roadmap is headed? Do you think this is a sign of its failure, or are those expected problems prior to any road to peace?
Answer
Palestinians are ready to fight all the time for peace. This question must be directed to the Israelis, they kill everyday. The problem is not the Palestinians. Every action has a reaction. I hope we will use the right road to reach our rights. Palestinians believe in peace more than Israelis and more than the Israeli government.
Name
Munnawarah
- South Africa
Profession
Student
Question
Assalaamu alaikum
Allahu Akbar!
Did your Eemaan strengthen in jail for so long, or did prison life somehow break you to the extent of losing hope in Allah's Help? What about the other Palestinian prisoners?
Answer
I am a Muslim and I believe in God. I never lost my faith. I played sports everyday in jail from 7 am till 10 am and I kept feeling stronger and stronger. I am stronger because I believe that one day we will have our independence and Jerusalem will be our capital.
The other prisoners believe in peace and they strike for peace and they fight for peace. I hope every Palestinian prisoner is freed soon.
Name
zerwal m.
- Algeria
Profession
Question
What you like to do in ramallah have you any job..how you see people after 27 years?
Answer
I would like to stay with my family after being away from them for 27 years I wish for a happy life and I wish it for all human beings.
Name
Marianne
-
Profession
Question
How have the long years in prison changed you?
Answer
I am the same man, same energy, only stronger. I will never change. I call for peace. I still like to mingle with people and be with them all the time.
Name
MM
-
Profession
Question
If you were to go back in time, would you have chosen a different path? Did you ever regret what you did which put you in jail?
Answer
I believe that I did what I did for the Palestinian people to keep Palestine's name on the map. I did it for my people, to let the world know that we are suffering.
Name
Ahmad
-
Profession
Question
What do you plan on doing now that you are free? Will you continue the struggle?
Answer
I plan to see all the prisoners free from jail. More than 8000 are still in Israeli jails. I will fight, but not with guns, I will fight for the right to live like normal people, to go anywhere we want. I believe we deserve peace and freedom.
My children are those whom I left behind in jail. I will fight to free them. I do believe in peace.
Our happiness will be complete after freeing all the prisoners. We are 7 million, we deserve a state, we deserve freedom.
Host - Thank you for your participation in the dialogue. We apologize for not being able to answer all of your questions due to time limitation.
