Dweik slams international double standards towards issue of prisoners

[ 18/04/2011 - 01:47 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Speaker of the Palestinian legislative council Dr. Aziz Dweik strongly denounced the international double standards and hypocrisy towards the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Dr. Dweik made his remarks in a sit-in organized by families of prisoners on Sunday outside the Red Cross headquarters in Ramallah city on the 37th Palestinian prisoner day. Dr. Dweik stated in his speech that the international community blatantly turns a blind eye to thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and only pays attention to one Israeli soldier detained in the Gaza Strip. He said this sit-in was aimed to remind the world and human rights organizations of the suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and their families. The speaker also appealed in his speech to the international community to do justice to the two Palestinian lawmakers and one former minister who resorted to the Red Cross building in occupied Jerusalem after Israel decided to expel them from their native holy city. The speaker also referred to the suffering of isolated prisoners, women and children locked up in Israeli jails and expressed hope the international community could enable them to live in dignity like humans. In Al-Khalil city on the same day, hundreds of Palestinians and families of prisoners went on a march in solidarity with prisoners in Israeli jails following a ceremony organized by the Palestinian prisoner society to commemorate the Palestinian prisoner day. Massive crowds also gathered in Gamal Abdulnasser park of Nablus city to mark the day. They carried banners demanding freedom and rights for Palestinian prisoners.