Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required
4. Sample letter
1. Summary
Sheikh Raed Salah, known by Palestinians as ‘Defender of Al-Aqsa’; leader of the Islamic Movement in 48’ Palestine – the largest civil-society body in Israel – was arrested in the UK on 28th June 2011, and then transferred to a prison on Friday 1st July.
The double standard exhibited by the British government is appalling. Whereas British laws have been transgressed in order to facilitate visits to the UK by Israeli war criminal, it has now arrested an innocent Palestinian leader – dubbed the ‘Gandhi of Palestine’ – who speaks out against the ethnic-cleansing of the occupied territories.
Write to your local MPs and the British Foreign Secretary William Hague, urging them to release immediately Sheikh Raed Salah.
2. Background
Home Secretary Theresa May has stated that Sheikh Raed Salah had been banned from entering the UK, and that the UK Border Agency is taking steps to deport him.
This is in spite of Raed Salah being allowed into the country using his Israeli passport, and the fact that he was not questioned or stopped at either Ben Gurion or Heathrow airports. He had been able to give a number of speeches outside of London, and even addressed MPs and Lords at a roundtable event at the Houses of Parliament. Yet on the evening of Tuesday 28th, he was arrested by police and taken to Paddington police station.
Pro-Israel lobbyists have called for Raed Salah’s deportation, and the British government has seemingly submitted to these pressures by imprisoning Sheikh Raed Salah. They accuse him of being an anti-Semite and a hate preacher. Raed Salah vehemently denies all such allegations. He has only recently been allowed access to solicitors. He is to resist any attempt by the British government to deny his right to travel, and dismiss accusations launched by the pro-Israel lobby that he is anti-Semitic, or a threat to public order.
Sheikh Raed Salah has faced arrest and imprisonment on numerous occasions outside of the UK for engaging in activities that promote the welfare and human rights of Palestinians and Arabs. The rule of law is being shamefully violated by the British government, and it is the duty of all those concerned about this issue and the fate of Raed Salah to make sure that it does not go unchecked. If a prominent leader of the Palestinians such as Sheikh Raed Salah can be prevented from staying in the UK, then the hope that ordinary Palestinians might be granted the same right is certainly bleak.
3. Action required
Write to the your local MPs and UK’s Foreign-Secretary, William Hague urging them to immediately release Sheikh Raed Salah and end this shameful action. UK campaigners can write to their local MPs on www.writetothem.com.
4. Sample letter
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A sample letter is given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is very important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters. Please don’t forwarding copies of the sample letters below, and only send us the reply that you receive. It is preferable that letters be sent via post, or otherwise by fax and/or email.
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a)Your local MP
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Mp’s address]
[Date]
Dear [MP’s name],
Re: Unjust detention of Sheikh Raed Salah in the UK
I am utterly shocked and dismayed over the British government’s decision to arrest Sheikh Raed Salah, prominent defender of the rights of Palestinians both within Israel and the Occupied Territories.
Raed Salah was admitted into the country using his Israeli passport, and was not questioned or stopped at either Ben Gurion or Heathrow airports. He had been able to give a number of speeches outside of London, and even addressed MPs and Lords at a roundtable event at the Houses of Parliament. Yet on the evening of Tuesday 28th, he was arrested by police and taken to Paddington police station.
The hypocrisy and double standards of the British government is appalling. Whereas it has in the past attempted to circumvent British law in order to facilitate visits to the UK by Israeli war criminals, it now arrests an innocent Palestinian who speaks out against Israeli war crimes, and offers insights in how to peacefully end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sheikh Raed Salah possesses widespread popularity in both the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel by virtue of being a leading voice of all Palestinians (whether Muslim or Christian) against Israel’s destruction of the Temple Mount Complex, and an important provider of social services to the impoverished. Their brave efforts should not be sacrificed in order to merely appease the Israeli government and pro-Israel lobbies.
I urge you to raise this matter in Parliament in order to persuade the Home Office to release Sheikh Raed Salah immediately.
I look forward to your reply regarding this urgent matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
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b) British Foreign-Secretary William Hague
[Your name]
[Your address]
E-mail: haguew@parliament.uk
[Date]
Dear Rt Hon. Foreign-Secretary William Hague,
Re: Unjust detention of Sheikh Raed Salah in the UK
I am utterly shocked and dismayed over the British government’s decision to arrest Sheikh Raed Salah, prominent defender of the rights of Palestinians both within Israel and the Occupied Territories.
Raed Salah was admitted into the country using his Israeli passport, and was not questioned or stopped at either Ben Gurion or Heathrow airports. He had been able to give a number of speeches outside of London, and even addressed MPs and Lords at a roundtable event at the Houses of Parliament. Yet on the evening of Tuesday 28th, he was arrested by police and taken to Paddington police station.
The hypocrisy and double standards of the British government is appalling. Whereas it has in the past attempted to circumvent British law in order to facilitate visits to the UK by Israeli war criminals, it now arrests an innocent Palestinian who speaks out against Israeli war crimes, and offers insights in how to peacefully end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As Britain’s Foreign Secretary, it is a duty of yours to ensure that the UK’s relationship with other countries and foreign citizens is always based upon the rule of law and basic human rights. Sheikh Raed Salah should have been free to travel throughout the UK just as anybody else who bears a valid passport, and who has been admitted into the UK by the UK Border Agency.
I urge you to do all that is in your power to make sure that Sheikh Raed Salah is released immediately.
I look forward to your reply regarding this urgent matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
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