Intolerant governments across the globe are "slowly crushing" activist and advocacy groups that play an essential role in the development of democracy, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday....
among those she named were Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Venezuela, China and Russia.- HuffPost
Didn't she miss something?
Meanwhile, in Occupied Palestine...
Adeeb Abu Rahma, a taxi driver from the West Bank Village of Bil’in, is known for his firm commitment to nonviolence during the weekly demonstrations against the Wall. At the July 10, 2009 demonstration, he was grabbed by Israeli soldiers as he walked away from them, his message of resistance on a sign he held. He has been imprisoned ever since, without trial. Adeeb is the sole provider for his nine children, wife and mother.- The Only Democracy?
Nothing out of the ordinary here, just the routine crushing of those struggling for freedom.
Amnesty International has urged an Israeli military court not to convict a Palestinian non-violent activist who has been detained since last July, after he took part in a protest against the Israeli built fence/wall on Palestinian land.
Adeeb Abu Rahma has been charged with "being present in a declared military zone", "incitement" and "activity against public order". There is a real concern that the Ofer Military Court in the Israeli-occupied West Bank will convict him on Sunday.
"A guilty verdict would set a worrying precedent for other activists charged and awaiting trial, as Adeeb Abu Rahma would be the first activist against the fence/wall to be brought to a full evidential trial in a case of this kind," said Amnesty International.- Amnesty International
The court did indeed convict him and sentenced Adeeb to 2 years. His crime? Actively opposing the destruction of his village that will be the result of the Annexation Wall being built by Israel.
Adeeb's case would seem to be a striking example of "slowly crushing" of activity that is essential to bring about democracy and justice. But for the US government (and certainly not this administration alone), human rights are just for those who protest in nations that do not serve narrowly defined "US interests".
It's up to us to call for universal application of human rights and to support democracy and freedom of dissent for all. Such things always start from the grassroots, never from politicians.
This draconian prison sentence placed on Adeeb for nonviolent dissent and protest is just the latest manifestation of a nation that is at war with all forms of dissent and protest, especially by the Palestinians themselves.
We can be sure that when President Obama meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu later today, that this case will not be an issue, any more than the thousands of other political prisoners held by Israel, many held without trial. After all, Israel is an official ally, so stifling dissent is not an issue for the US government.
It can and should be an issue for us.
The scars speak for themselves: a scorched hole in the middle of his forehead, like a mark of Cain, two more burn holes on his right hand and one on his left arm. The scratches on his face and arm have already healed. That's what remains from the night on which soldiers decided to have a little fun with Salah Rajabi, a student in the 12th grade at the Tareq School in Hebron.
It's not the first time soldiers have beaten him up. There have been no fewer than 12 previous attacks. The most serious of them occurred in 2006, when soldiers broke the boy's shoulder and he was hospitalized. In December 2008, he was arrested with his two brothers on suspicion of stone throwing and released after 10 days. On another occasion he was arrested and released on bail of NIS 1,000. But this was the scariest attack of all, with the burning cigarettes on his flesh, the penknife that cut into his face and a mysterious pill the soldiers made him swallow by force, which frightened him more than anything else.
Another "Clockwork Orange" night in Hebron, in Israeli-controlled Area H2, which has been almost totally abandoned by the Palestinian residents for fear of the settlers and the Israel Defense Forces. - Gideon Levy
Salah Rajabi also knows about this "crushing" done by a government that acts to stifle dissent and freedom. it has literally been burned into his flesh.
Let's demand that our government cares about this not only in places like North Korea but also in "official allies". We can do that by raising our voices and taking action.
Free Adeeb Abu Rahma!
Contact your local Israeli consulate/embassy and tell them to free Adeeb, so that he can again be with his family, so that he again can support democracy and freedom for his people. The people of the US helped tremendously in obtaining the freedom of Nelson Mandela, this despite the fact that our own government was instrumental in assisting with his original arrest. But eventually enough people rose up to demand his freedom and freedom for the people of South Africa.
Together we are rising up for the freedom of the Palestinian people.
We can also help in a tangible way....
Adeeb’s daughter Raja: We also ask your support for Adeeb’s daughter, Raja. Though from a simple family, Raja has won extremely high marks in the nationwide high-school exam scores, and she is now studying medicine at Bir Zeit University. Adeeb drives a taxi, and fees and other expenses would never have been easy for him, but his beloved daughter’s education has always been his priority. Since his imprisonment, friends of Adeeb have donated to allow Raja to continue her studies. She now needs $1500 for next semester’s fees, and we hope that supporters of Bil’in and of Adeeb can help her to realize her dreams and those of her father.
Can Kossacks get together and send enough support for Raja for another semester of her university studies? Please go and click the link at the bottom of this page and make a difference. Together we can do what our government so far refuses to do.... lay the groundwork for a future of peace and justice in the Middle East.