Another case of Zionist 'justice': Free Mahmoud Massarwa!

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Mahmoud Ahmad Massarwa is a Palestinian and a citizen of the state of Israel. His home is the village of Baka al-Gharbiyya, near Hadera. He is the husband of Wafa and the father of Zaatur (age seven) and Majdalene (age four). He is a political prisoner.

Before his arrest in July 1988, he worked in Tel Aviv as a carpenter by day and a factory guard at night. His employers were satisfied with him. He had good relations with his coworkers, Jews as well as Arabs.

Mahmoud Massarwa was arrested on the day before he was to leave for England to attend a conference of European socialists. He was held incommunicado for 15 days, during which time his lawyer was denied access to him. While in police custody, Mahmoud was systematically denied sleep. He was beaten in the course of interrogation, and his life was threatened.

All charges against him stem from his public political activity— his commitment to the cause of Palestinian freedom, and his loyalty to the international workers movement. Charged with arson, espionage, and possession of a firearm without a license, the only evidence against him at his trial was a confession that had been beaten out of him. (This was admitted by the judge who sentenced him.) He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Mahmoud is a prisoner of conscience. He neither advocates nor engages in violence. Mahmoud is opposed to racism. He is convinced that freedom for Palestinians from national oppression is a fundamental right. Mahmoud believes in the possibility of peaceful co-existence between Arabs and Jews. He advocates and participates in united-front organizations, activities, and struggles of Arabs and Jews.

Mahmoud is a socialist. His goal is for workers to re-organize society in the interests of the majority. His efforts are directed to the political organization and education of workers.

The state of Israel makes great efforts to present itself as "the only democracy in the Middle East." But in Israel, Mahmoud Massarwa is being denied basic democratic rights. He is being denied the right of freedom of expression, and the right to engage in peaceful political activity. He is being persecuted for his consistent advocacy of democratic principles. He is a political prisoner.

Mahmoud is appealing his conviction. The appeal is scheduled for Aug. 8. International support for Mahmoud's rights succeeded in forcing Israeli authorities to move his first trial from behind closed doors to a public proceeding and forced the government to back down on its ban on press coverage of the trial.

An International delegation composed of British Labour Party Members of Parliament, former hostage in Lebanon Brian Keenan, former Irish political prisoner Paddy Hill (of the Birmingham Six), and others will be traveling to Israel to demand an open and fair trial. International support from labor federations and union locals is building, including support from the French CGT and the Brazilian CUT.

Letters of protest and support for Mahmoud's democratic rights are urgently requested. They can be sent to Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, Prime Minister's Office, 3 Kaplan Street, Jerusalem, Israel 91919.

Donations to the defense effort can be sent to The Mahmoud Massarwa Defense Campaign, P.O. Box 10614, Oakland, CA 94610.

Mahmoud can receive mail at the following address: Mahmoud Ahmad Massarwa, Ayalon Prison, P.O. Box 16, Ramleh, Israel.-C.S.

The information in this article was obtained from Canadians Concerned for the Middle East (CCME) in London, Ont., and the Mahmoud Massarwa Defense Campaign.

SOCIALIST ACTION JULY 1991 5

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Roots of the civil war in Sri Lanka: focus their activity around declining wages and living standards. Per capita income in Sri Lanka is about $360.