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The Only Democracy? » Entries tagged with "Juliano Mer-Khamis"

Freedom Theatre attacked yet again

Freedom Theatre attacked yet again

Missed this item last week because of earthquake/hurricane, but the Freedom Theatre was attacked again on August 22nd:   Freedom Theatre targeted again After the Israeli army targeted the theatre twice during the last month, arresting three of its members, today at approximately 02:00 in the morning of the 22nd August the Israeli army again surrounded The Freedom Theatre and the Nagnaghiya family home. Jacob Gough, the Acting General Manager at The Freedom Theatre left the office at about … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs

Freedom Theatre Update: First rule about being arrested by Israel is..

Freedom Theatre Update: First rule about being arrested by Israel is..

 `Let the jury consider their verdict,’ the King said, for about the twentieth time that day. `No, no!’ said the Queen. `Sentence first–verdict afterwards.’ Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Here’s an update about the latest arrest at the Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee Camp. The previous arrests were covered here, but you can’t read about the latest on in Israel. The democracy has forbidden reporting on it within the country. Acting Student Rami Hwayel Taken By Israeli Army by: The … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs

Updated: Israeli Army ambushes Freedom Theater

Soldiers have stormed the Freedom Theatre of Jenin, whose co-founder Juliano Mer-Khamis was slain earlier this year. UPDATE: Per Jonatan Stanczak: latest is that the lawyers have been barred from visiting or speaking with Adnan or Bilal and that they have been taken to two different prisons in Israel. No additional info from the army on why. – Show quoted text – URGENT PRESS RELEASE From The Freedom Theater Foundation, Jenin, Palestine 04.46 (gmt+2), July 27, 2011 Special Forces of the Israeli Army attacked the Freedom Theater in Jenin Refugee Camp at approximately 03:30 this morning.  Ahmad Nasser Matahen, a night guard and technician student at the theater work up by heavy blocks of stone hurled at the entrance of the theater.  As he opened the door he found masked and heavily armed Israeli Special Forces … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs

RIP Vittorio, z”l

I was scheduled to be interviewed by Ashley Bates, whose work we have reposted here. Instead she got word of the death of her friend, Italian peace activist Vittorio Arrigoni at the ends of self-proclaimed “Salafists,” an Islamist faction and rival to Hamas. While of course internationals’ deaths are not more important than anyone else’s, this one also seems to have touched a nerve with many who struggle to tell the truth about what goes on in Israel/Palestine. Ashley’s rememberances and questioning why Vittorio was killed can be read here at Mother Jones. In the winter, spring, and summer of 2010, I observed Vik as he participated in weekly non-violent demonstrations against the no-go zone. The unarmed protesters would march into the zone, plant Palestinian flags, and then retreat—all the while getting shot at … Read entire article »

Filed under: On The Ground Reports

Interview with BDS leader Omar Barghouti

Democracy Now! shared this interview with a Palestinian leader of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, Omar Barghouti. Jewish Voice for Peace was part of an international campaign to get the U.S. State department to reverse the decision to deny him a visa. Thankfully, the campaign was successful and the U.S. granted him a visa after unconscionably delaying. Hear what you almost missed below. From the trancript, here’s Omar on Juliano Mer-Khamis’s death. OMAR BARGHOUTI: It’s very hard to say who killed him, because no Palestinian group or individual had any interest in killing him. I mean, any patriotic Palestinian lost Juliano, because Juliano did a great service to the people of Jenin, especially the refugee camp, and on the front of cultural resistance. When I talked about nonviolent popular resistance, people … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs

Democracy Now! on Julian’s death

Democracy Now! on Julian’s death

Democracy Now? asked us to repost their interview with Nabeel Raee, director of the Acting School at the Jenin Freedom Theatre and Constancia “Dinky” Romilly. She is the founder and president of the board of the New York-based Friends of Jenin Freedom Theatre. They are speaking of the death of their colleague Juliano Mer-Khamis. Rush Transcript: AMY GOODMAN: Palestinians, artists, peace activists worldwide are mourning the loss of a leading figure in Palestinian creative nonviolence resistance. Juliano Mer-Khamis, the head … Read entire article »

Filed under: On The Ground Reports

Juliano Mer-Khamis, in his own words

From filmmaker and activist Jen Marlowe: Dear friends, Many of you may have already heard about the murder of Juliano Mer-Khamis. The co-founder and director of the Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee Camp, he was gunned down (five bullets to the head) this afternoon outside the theatre by an unknown assailant. I first met Juliano in 2006, when I began working with a group of activists in New York to support the Freedom Theatre. I have visited the Freedom Theatre multiple times over the years, watching Juliano teach and direct young acting students. Most recently, I watched Juliano as he coached acting students three months ago, preparing for the much-acclaimed production of “Alice in Wonderland.” I have no words at this moment to describe Juliano, the work of the Freedom Theatre and the scope … Read entire article »

Filed under: Featured, Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs