Support Palestinian footballer – Mahmoud Sarsak!

June 14, 2012 U Free Network

 

As you enjoy the Euro2012 games please give thought to Sarsak, a skillful footballer who once played for the Palestinian National team. He urgently needs your support as he now tackles with death at the hands of the oppressive Israeli regime.

Mahmoud Sarsak is now reaching his 92nd day of hunger strike- the longest hunger strike undergone by a Palestinian Political prisoner. Due to the prolonged suffering to his body and immune system his health is deteriorating rapidly and his condition is now more critical than ever.

UFree urges you to support his case immediately by:

* Signing the letter below and forwarding it to your local MP.  

(Due to a technical error, please copy the letter below and contact your local MP directly)

* Contact the Israeli embassy in your country or consulate and demand for the immediate release of Mahmoud Sarsak.

Israel should be subjected to the same criticism faced by Poland and Ukraine, who are hosting Euro 2012.It is time to end Israel's impunity and to insist on the same standards of equality, justice and respect for international law that we demand of other states.

Letter:

For the attention of Members of Parliaments

Re: Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Sarsak deteriorating health

As the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship grips the nation I draw your attention to the plight of Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak. Once a star player in the Palestinian national team, Sarsak was jailed by Israel in 2009, as he left the Gaza Strip en route to a match. Sarsak had been on a hunger strike since 19 March 2012, after his administrative detention was renewed for an astonishing sixth time.

His health condition is now critical and deteriorating fast. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-Israel) have said that Sarsak could die at any time. Israel has not allowed the charity to visit him in Ramle Prison until last week. Sarsak has experienced extreme loss of muscle tissue and drastic weight loss. He frequently loses consciousness and suffers memory lapses.

On Sunday 6th of June, Israeli Prisons Service (IPS) transferred Sarsak to Assaf Harofeh hospital because of his rapid deteriorating health. This transfer was due to the inability of both Al Ramla prison hospital and Mair civil hospital to treat Sarsak's critical health condition.

Sarsak has been held without trial or charge under the infamous "Unlawful Combatants Law", which allows Israeli authorities to detain Palestinians from Gaza for an unlimited time without trial or charge.

I urge you to take the following actions so Sarsak’s life can be saved:

1. Highlight Sarsaks case by contacting parliamentarians and Israeli embassies across the world and subject Israel to the same criticism faced by Poland and Ukraine, who are hosting Euro 2012.
2. To urge FIFA to intervene in the case, expressing grave concern regarding Sarsak's deteriorating health. http://www.fifa.com/contact/form.html

I urge your support as we call an end to Israel's impunity and to insist on the same standards of equality, justice and respect for international law that we demand of other states.

Yours sincerely,