31/10/04 To those who have forgotten: Tali Fahima is still in prison
 
Dear Friends,

After Tali Fahima was arrested no pretext could be found to put her on trial for her acts and humanitarian objectives in Jenin. She was instead sentenced to Administrative Detention.

This despite the fact that administrative detention is not justice. It is instead a mockery of justice. The only people who are privy to witnesses, evidence, and the precise charges against the accused during the hearings for administrative detention are the judge and the prosecution, the latter being the representatives of the Shabak (i.e., General Security Service). All the apparatus of a fair trial are denied the accused and his/her lawyer. In short, administrative-detention hearings not only deny the accused due process of the law, but also by denying the accused the paraphernalia for defending oneself, administrative detention in effect judges a person guilt — until proven innocent.

On top of this, the 4 months incarceration period of administrative detention can be extended over and over ad infinitum after the completion of each period of imprisonment.

Despite this miscarriage of justice, Tali Fahima has remained nearly alone in her battle for justice, especially as regards her financial burden for legal expenses. Tali and her mother are not wealthy.

Money is also needed for a petition that was published. A small group of activists who believe in Tali has tried to help her in various ways.

Their activities included circulating a petition and publishing it twice in Ha'aretz (one of Israelís 3 major newspapers). Tali's supporters hoped in this way to stir public opinion against her being held in administrative detention. Unfortunately, their endeavors did not succeed. Moreover, although 700 signed the petition, only a few of the signatories sen t money to defray the costs of publishing the petition. Yet payment has to be made.

I call on all who identify with Tali and support her cause (whether you signed the petition or not) to donate now, however much you can, to help both cover the cost of the newspaper notice and defray Taliís legal expenses.

I also call on the Peace and Human Rights organizations to rally their forces to free Tali, now decaying in prison, with the possibility of her term being extended. Let us all show solidarity and work together to free Tali Fahima.

Donations by check should be made out to “Mateh Hacoalitziah” and sent to PO Box 1335 Kfar Saba. Send bank transfers or bank checks to Bank Hapoalim, Branch 679, Account 119442.

Thank you. Sincerely,

Yakov Manor

==============================

To those who have forgotten: Tali Fahima is still in prison.

The Legal Situation

The High Court has not yet handed down its judgment regarding Tali Fahima's petition against her administrative detention. As you may recall, during the hearings held a month ago, the judge offered Tali the possibility of serving her term of administrative detention in house arrest instead of incarceration in prison. However, the offer was made on the condition that Tali be under guard 24 hours a day by someone selected by the military, at her expense. That is to say, she would be obliged to pay for the guard.

Negotiations between the family and the State revealed that the minimum requirements would cost 30,000.00 shekel per month, a sum which the family does not have nor can raise!

Tali refused the conditions, and informed the court of her decision. Her case is still pending, while Tali meanwhile is in prison.

Support Tali with letters

Tali has asked us to thank all those who have written her. Tali receives the letters you send, and wants you to know that they are very important to her, because, apart from her contact with her lawyers, letters are almost the sole human contact she has with the outside world. The only person to visit her besides her lawyers is her mother, whose visits the authorities restrict to once in two weeks. Tali prefers not to answer letters from prison, because her mail is read and censored by the prison authorities, and at times is not even sent. But she is nevertheless greatly appreciative of receiving your letters.

Send your letters to

Tali Fahima

Naveh Tirtza Prison

POBox 7

Ramleh, Israel

Legal Expenses and the cost of the Petition [the information here is the same as in Yakov Manorís appeal above]

===========================================

  
Main Index >> Palestine/Israel Index