Shadi's Release

 

I promised you won't hear from me until Shadi was at home.   Well, it happened sooner than I had thought.  The court session for the appeal of the District Attorney took place this morning and the judge ruled his release for house arrest. He is on his way home now, and the whole neighborhood is preparing his favorite dish of “Koussa wa waraq” (Stuffed zucchini and vine leaves.)  House arrest might be a long process, but at least he is at home with the family, and his dog Abboud, and he will be doing his studies on-line, especially that his school has been so supportive.  And of course, he would be joining the family in cheering his favorite teams in the World Cup games.  This first Sunday of Advent was a good omen, and will remain a memorable day for Shadi and all the family and his friends.   Thank you all for prayers, for your great support, solidarity and friendship, and for all the pressure you had exerted, which I am sure has helped a lot. So, with this note, our nightmare is over.  Have a blessed Advent season.  Samia

Shadi Missed my 89th Birthday

Dear Friends,

I want to thank you once again for your queries and for your solidarity with us during these difficult times.  Many of you have been in touch, so I want to  apologize for not sending you an update  on the court session of the 23^rd because I was hoping that Shadi will be with us on the 24^th and will make my 89^th birthday extra special. But it was not meant to be,  as the occupation continues to deprive us even of the glimpse of hope that we hold on.

Despite the judge’s ruling later on in the day  to release Shadi  and other children  for “house arrest,” the Attorney General (ironically a woman) appealed against  the judge’s  decision.  

So you will not hear from me until I see Shadi at home.  But I hope you will continue to hold Shadi and all the children in your prayers, especially during this Holy season.  With deep appreciation   for your support of our just cause.    Samia

And wait...

 

Thank you all very much for your queries.  Actually after the court session on the 2nd he and other young people were transferred to the Ramleh prison where they spent the night  and yesterday they moved them  to Damoun in the North of the country awaiting another trial on November 14.  Actually the lawyer thinks they are better off there than the infamous detention and interrogation centre of Room No. 4 at the Russian compound in Jerusalem.  During his last day there he was beaten because he was singing.  They even deprive them of a moment of joy.  With deep appreciation for your concern and solidarity, and for all what you have been doing for  Shadi and all the children prisoners. Samia 

And We Wait....

Shadi Updates

Friday, October 21, 2022 

Shadi's father, his aunt and sister just got back from the court session at the Russian compound, and I am sorry to report that Shadi's arrest under interrogation has been extended until Tuesday. So unfortunately I have nothing new to report except that the whole episode is part of the occupation policy to terrorize those children. Please hold Shadi in your prayers and keep on the pressure for his release without further delay. With gratitude for your concern.; Samia 

Sunday, October 23, 2022 

For those of you who have been very supportive and concernedabout Shadi’s arrest, I just want you to know that there is nothing new yet. His arrest under interrogation has been extended till Sunday when there will be another hearing at the Russian compound. His lawyer had appealed the extension, but it was refused this morning at the Central Court House on Salah Eldin Street. However, it gave the family a chance to see him. Up to date he was beaten under interrogation on Tuesday the day of his arrest, he has not had appropriate medical care for his injuries that he sustained during his arrest with clear marks on his neck trunk arms and face. He reported today how they tighten the shackles on his hands and legs further whenever he complains of their tightness. We will wait for the next hearing on Sunday at the Russian compound. Please keep the pressure on so that Shadi will come back home and to us and to his school as soon as possible. Thank you all for your support and solidarity. Gratefully, Samia and the family. 

Today: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 

I was hoping to share with you some good news about Shadi at the end of the day. Unfortunately there has been another extension to his detention since a week ago. The judge was not presented with any charges against Shadi, yet he decided to postpone the court session till Thursday. Your support and pressure have been a great help, and I hope Thursday will see the end of this nightmare for Shadi and all the family. He seemed concerned about the football results today as he is quite a fan, but somebody managed to tip him on the results as he was getting into the bus after the session. I actually listen to the sports section on Monte Carlo every morning so I can discuss the latest news with Shadi when he stops by in the evenings. I do miss our evening chats, but the one who misses him most and is unable to express his feelings is the family dog, "Abboud” who was found sleeping in Shadi’s bed last night. Thank you again for your support and solidarity.

Shadi

In the early hours of this morning the Israeli occupation forces, consisting of a troop of around 12 persons consisting of army and secret service, stormed my son’s house after breaking the gate at the entrance of the compound in which we all live, so as to arrest his younger son Shadi Khoury, a sixteen-year-old child, a student at the Quakers Friends School in Ramallah. They beat him until he was bleeding all over the room and along the path on the way out of the house dragging him barefoot and blindfolded not allowing the parents to see where the blood was coming from. Shadi was taken to the interrogation section in the police compound called “the Russian compound” Shadi, a child, is being “interrogated” without the presence of his parents or a lawyer, a tactic used systematically to terrorize children into submission, and ultimately using their own words to incriminate them. Shadi is a case among so many Palestinian children that are being harassed, tortured and imprisoned for no reason other than being a Palestinian seeking to live in dignity and freedom in their own country. As an 89-year-old grandmother who has lived through the Nakba, the 1967 war, the first and second intifadas, I continue to ask you my friends: “Until when will this grave injustice go on?” Because you care for human rights, and the rights of children, I am asking you to take action now and contact your parliament or congress representative, to put an end to these grave injustices especially against our children as well as our whole population living under a brutal military occupation. Shadi should not be sleeping in a prison cell. He is a child and should be home with his family. Samia

Déjà vu

After Hurricane Ian in Florida subsided, our  Palestinian friend, married to an American,   stood by Fort Meyers Beach watching the site where  her home with all its precious belongings  once stood.  Indeed, it was a déjà vu feeling as she recalled what her parents and grandparents had told her about the Palestinian Nakba of 1948 long before she was born.  At that time around three quarter of a million Palestinians lost their homes and were forced out of Palestine to make room for the establishment of the State of Israel on their land. That is why we cannot help but empathize with such a loss.

 

I was watching President Biden’s visit to the area. So hopefully some compensation will be provided to help those young people reestablish themselves and not remain refugees forever.

Charity starts at home!!

What keeps bugging you Mr. Biden?  You and your administration kept provoking Russia until it attacked Ukraine.  Are you happy now?  You are safe in your White House and so is your administration, while thousands of Ukrainians ended up as refugees and victims of your policies, and you are still sending them arms.  It seems that all the US administration is  capable of doing is producing arms and sending them to areas of conflict - adding  fuel to the fire, over and above imposing sanctions here and there.  Why on earth are you now sending arms to Taiwan?  Has the US not done enough harm in so many parts of the world?   If you are so concerned about democracy and the welfare of people, take care of your own first.   The money that you send to Israel alone to support and maintain an illegal occupation can feed and shelter all the homeless and those who have no medical care in your own country.  Charity starts at home!!!!!.