Photos: Bil’in solidarity rally
- photos by Darren Ell, Scott Weinstein, Valerian Mazataud.
- Photo: Scott Weinstein: Solidarity rally for Bil’in in Montreal
A protest in solidarity with Bil’in, Palestine took to the street in downtown Montreal on Friday, August 7th, to denounce the ongoing night-time raids on Bil’in and string of arrests by the Israeli military targeting Palestinian community activists. Israeli military forces have been launching night incursions into the village throughout recent weeks and targeting the homes of members of Bil’in’s Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements.
Mohammad Khatib a key Palestinian community activist in Bil’in was arrested on Monday, August 3rd, only weeks after Khatib toured 11 cities in Canada to educate people across Canada on Bil’in’s popular struggle against Israel’s apartheid wall. Israel’s wall annexes more than fifty percent of Bil’in’s land. Mohammad Khatib also participated court proceedings for a groundbreaking lawsuit launched by Bil’in village against two Montreal based companies currently constructing Israeli-only settlements on Palestinian lands in Bil’in, a mainly agricultural village in the West Bank.
- Photo: Darren Ell: Solidairty with Bil’in in Montreal
- Photo: Valerian Mazataud: No Justice! No Peace!
Photo: Scott Weinstein: Journalist Jooneed Khan speaking out for Bil’in, Palestine
- Photo: Darren Ell: Activist Marie Auer Labonté speaking out for Bil’in
Photo: Valerian Mazataud: Journalist Stefan Christoff rallying for Bil’in, Palestine
One of the 7 arrested last week in Bil’in – the youth Abdallah Muhammad Yasin was finally released today.
The other six will stay in prison until the next hearing. Charges will be filed against them in the next few days and the military prosecution will ask to have them jailed untill their trial is over.
This is the decisive stage of the trial. All those who will not be released for their trial will either have to plead guilty to get a shorter sentence or spend more time in jail trying to prove their innocence.
Hearings will take place on 2 different dates:
Tuesday 11.8. for Khaled Khatib, Isa Abu-Rahmeh and the youth Mhammad Shawkat Khatib
Thursday 13.8. for Mhammad Khatib from the Popular Committee, Abdallah Ahmad Yasin and Mustafa Khatib
So far, few people have attended the hearings. Now it is important to have a significant presence in court: The people on trial have asked for it, and strong public interest will send a clear message to the court.
source : AATW
Comment by Mica — August 9th, 2009 @ 6:11 PM