Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Palestinian singer joins hunger strike

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Palestinian singer and activist Rim Banna is on hunger strike for third consecutive day in solidarity with the Palestinian detainees who have been on hunger strike for the past two weeks.

"I am the Palestinian singer Rim Banna," the famous singer wrote on her Facebook page.

Monday in Nazareth, Banna said she began "a hunger strike in a solidarity with the 6000 Palestinian and Arab political detainees in their struggle 'of the empty stomachs battle' in Israeli prisons."

"Please join and support the detainees to achieve their demands," she said.

Banna called on the youth in Nazareth to join her and not to twist the strike into factional strike by holding factional slogans or symbols.

On Wednesday, she committed to continuing her sit-in and hunger strike although she suffers from severe sickness. She announced that she would not stop and appealed for solidarity with the detainees.

Palestinians jailed in Israel went on a mass hunger strike on Sept. 27 to protest harsh conditions. Thousands of demonstrators have staged rallies to support prisoners who are refusing food.