sTATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE FREEDOM THEATRE
We encourage you to sign THIS letter In solidarity with The Freedom Theatre. This letter calls for the immediate release of Mustafa Sheta and all 100 members of the Jenin community detained on Wednesday 13th December.
Instructions from the Letter's organizers:
Please read the letter in full and fill in the form linked below if you would like to add your signature to the list. Completing this form will add your name to a public list on the letter itself. Your name may also be used for press opportunities. Your email will be kept confidential and only used in the event of updates, or related actions. Whilst we are particularly interested to hear from those working within the theatre industry, this letter is open for anyone to sign. So please share it widely.
Sign the letter here.
For The Freedom Theatre updates, please see HERE and HERE:
In an interview with Democracy Now, The Freedom Theatre’s Artistic Director Ahmed Tobasi said passionately: "I am asking all the artists in this world . . . all the friends all around the world, you have to unite, and we have to fight not just for Palestinians, for this planet, for humanity, for each community and each country still under colonization or under occupation."
The Freedom Theatre continues to ask people to remain active every day to advocate for Mustafa, The Freedom Theatre and all Palestinians:
Call the White House
Write a letter to your local newspaper
Contact people in your local theater community
Contact anyone with influence!
Get on your local radio (call in!)
DETAILS ON THE DETAINMENT OF MUSTAFA SHETA
Mustafa Sheta, Managing Director of The Freedom Theatre, was forcefully taken by the Israeli Army from his home on the morning of 13th December 2023. The Israeli Army special forces broke into several houses in the neighborhood where Mustafa lives with his family and brothers. The special occupation forces asked the neighbors for directions to Mustafa's house.
After finding his home, the army forced everyone to sit in the living room. When they finally identified Mustafa Sheta, the commander in charge, asked: "Did you do something?" To which Mustafa responded: "I did not do anything." Mustafa was blindfolded, his hands tied and he was taken away without further information.
Mustafa Sheta has been given six months administrative detention. He is a precautionary detainee imprisoned without charge.
Administrative detention is a clear tactic being used to destroy Palestinian society and cause widespread trauma and fear. All Palestinians risk being taken, from teachers to dancers, those who like a post on Facebook to those participating in a gathering of 10 people without a permit.
An estimated 2,800 Palestinians from the West Bank and Historical Palestine are currently being held in administrative detention.
Israel has presented no evidence against Mustafa but suggested they do not want him outside the prison because he writes articles criticizing Israel.
Mustafa's hearing was in a closed military court, and only the lawyer could enter. There was no justice or judicial process and in this style of hearing, military orders always take precedence over Israeli and international law.
Mustafa's wife, Rasha Abu Moais, shared "The lawyer told me what happened in court and that we cannot do anything. They are in "a state of war" and the army is the one who decides the fate of the prisoners".
Artists and journalists continue to be targeted by Israel in an attempt to silence those who are showing the world what is happening in Palestine.
Human Rights Monitor Euro-Med has recorded 104 Palestinian journalists and media workers from Gaza have been killed since the beginning of October.