[RAICES] Jaggi jailed in Jerusalem

[pari z]

hey everyone-

i'm sending this out to all of you because I know that many of you know 
jaggi personally or at least have heard of him. He came out to Hampshire to 
give a talk two years ago.  This is the most recent message that I've 
recieved about his arrest. As a personal request- jaggi is a friend of mine 
as well, and this really worries me. so if you can, please do whatever- 
either make the calls/emails or fwd this on to others that you know...
as always- if you want to be up-dated about this, send me an email at this 
address (and not to everyone)

much love-
  pari





Montreal, January 8th  2003 -- Jaggi Singh, a Montreal based
activist and organizer, was kidnapped today in Jerusalem by a group
of undercover Israeli police officers. He was on his way to visit a
friend, and was arrested as he arrived at his friend's apartment.
Jaggi traveled to Israel and the Occupied Territories on the
invitation of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). The ISM
is a Palestinian-led movement which brings together Palestinians and
Internationals to fight the Israeli occupation through non-violent
direct action. Jaggi was also providing written and audio reports to
various independent news organizations and activist networks about
the situation on the ground in the Occupied Territories.

Jaggi's kidnapping comes after his trip to the Occupied Territories
had ended and as he prepared to leave Israel. He planned return to
Canada on January 11th. When Jaggi first arrived in Israel in
mid-December, he was refused entry to the country. He refused to be
refused andwas immediately detained; he spent two days fighting an
illegal deportation from Israel. Israel has refused 10,000
internationals over the past 2 years.

After winning a court battle with the assistance of Israeli lawyer
Shamai Leibowitz, Jaggi was granted entry into Israel with the
condition that he leave the country by December 23rd. The judge also
barred him from entering the Occupied Territories. This condition,
imposed by the Tel Aviv District Court, is illegal according to
Canadian and International Law. Israel has no has absolutely no
legal authority over the Palestinian Territories and therefore
cannot decide who is allowed entry and who is not.

Jaggi is currently being held at the Russian Compound in Jerusalem,
an Israeli Jail notorious for torturing Palestinians. No details are
being released as to the nature of Jaggi's charges -- if any are
being laid -- or how long he will be held.

Today's nabbing illustrates the lengths to which the state of Israel
will go to silence voices critical of the occupation.

Please call the following numbers and urge the Canada's Department
of Foreign Affairs to intervene politically and pressure the Israeli
government to ensure that Jaggi is released swiftly and returns home
safely.
===> The Canadian Embassy in Tel Aviv:
Phone: +011-972-3-636-3300
Fax: (011 9723) 636-3380
E-mail Address: mailto:taviv at dfait-maeci.gc.ca

===> The 24/7 Operations Center at the Department of Foreign Affairs in
Ottawa: Phone: 1-800-267-6788 or 613-944-6788.

===> Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham's Office: 613-995-1851

You can also call the Russian Compound at +011-972-2-539-1340 ask for
Shimi Marciano.

For more information please email Stefan at mailto:christoff at tao.ca or
Andrea at mailto:andrea at tao.ca.

For more information about the International Solidarity Movement, check
out the website: http://www.palsolidarity.org.







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