As of now at local time Monday morning 2 a.m. May 16, 2011, Mazin Qumsiyeh is still being detained. His cell phone battery died as he called and wrote down the names and countries of the seven internationals that were detained with him so they can get help calling their respective country's embassy (Ireland, USA, Canada, Germany, Netherland.)
Later, he borrowed someone else's phone to call and inform his family [this letter is via his family] to let them know that all the internationals would be released shortly, but not him and other Palestinians. For them, he said, maybe days.
He sounded in good spirit and did not seem to be mistreated. Your calls to the U.S. State Department, Senators, Congresspersons, and foreign governments if you are non-US nationals will help.
Here is a video that he took up to the moment when he was arrested. He managed to pass on the video to a friend before being taken away.
Many of you wrote in response to the earlier e-mail breaking the news of Mazin's arrest. His family greatly appreciates that. Please understand that they may not be replied individually due to the overwhelming responses. They will send updates as they become available.
Hope I have good news to share with you tomorrow [via family]
*Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh teaches and does research at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities in occupied Palestine. He serves as chairman of the board of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People and coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Sahour.
He is author of "Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human rights and the Israeli/Palestinian Struggle" and the forthcoming book “Popular Resistance in Palestine: A history of Hope and Empowerment”
- Free Gaza movement & US Boat to Gaza:
- http://www.FreeGaza.org
- http://UStoGazaWest.org/
- http://www.UStoGaza.org
- Support ISM volunteers in West Bank and Gaza Strip!
- http://www.palsolidarity.org
