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Druze refuser Seif Abu Seif defies military prison authorities, gets harsh conditions
http://newprofile.org/english/node/396
Seif Abu Seif - Druze refuser being held in isolation in military prison

The Group Against Compulsory Service
Seif Abu Seif , 18 years old from Shfar`am, was sentenced to 15 days in military
prison #6 for conscientious objection (this is his first term). his refusal to
join the Israeli Army is ideological as well as religious. on Monday 9/12 he was
sent to isolation for his refusal to cut his hair as military protocols demand.
His refusal is religious and the military is unwilling to consider it and exempt
him from his duty, as they often exempt Jewish orthodox detainees from cutting
their hair on religious grounds.

The conditions in the jail isolation are harsh, he told Adv. Rawan Eghbariah
from New Profile:
1. The windows of the cell are open 24/7 and he is not allowed to closed them,
even in the cold wintery weather. the wind and the rain come through them and
water are leaking on to his bed.
2. The concrete floor is swamped from the rainy water, he is not allowed to
clean them.
3. During the day, (5:00 am until 11:00 pm), the three blankets he sleeps with
are taken from him. The cell does not have any other source of heating.
4. The florescent lamps are left on 24/7.

In addition we have just learned that the military has informed Seif’s family
that all visits are cancelled until he complies with the orders and cuts his
hair.

We sent numerous letters asking for the removal of Seif from the isolation cell
and yet he is still there.

For further information about Seif or any of the other conscientious objectors
currently in jail, feel free to contact us.

Shahaf Weisbein
Coordinator of the Refusers’ Counseling Network - New Profile
+972 (0) 54-444-3041
shahafweisbein@gmail.com

Adv. Rawan Eghbariah
Legal Aid Coordinator - New Profile
+972 (0) 54-944-4959
rawanegh@gmail.com

Maisan Hamdan
The Group against Compulsory Service
972 (0) 52-581958

maisan_h7@hotmail.com

=====================================================================


http://www.newprofile.org/english/node/392
First Prison Term for Conscientious Objector Seif Abu Seif
Conscientious objector Seif Abu Seif sentenced to prison for the


first time for his refusal to join the Israeli Army.

Seif Abu Seif, 18 years old from Shfaraam, a village in the Galil, arrived,

Thursday 5/12/2013, to the Induction Base in Tal Hashomer where he declared his
refusal to serve in the Israeli Army and take part in mandatory military service
withihn the Arab-Palestinian Druze Comunity in Israel. On 5/12/2013, Omar was
sentenced to 20 days of imprisonment for his refusal, in the military prison No.
6 near Atlit.
Seif is a young guy belonging to the Palestinian Arab Druze community. This
community, in contrast to Arab society in large, was the target of a decision by
Prime Minister Ben Gurion in 1956 that forced them to serve in the Israeli army.
following this decision, mobilization orders were sent to all Druze citizens in
deployment age. That decision was faced with serious resistance from the Druze
community for many reasons. The main reasons were: refusing to fight against
their own people and demanding to be treated just like the rest of the
Palestinian Arab society in Israel. (* To read more on this issue follow the
reference below).

In his refusal decleration Seif wrote:
`How can I take part in jailing and killing my brothers? how han I identify with
the state that confiscated our lands? how can I as a Druz Arab Palestinian stand
against those who share with me life, tradition and fate? I cannot imagine that
for a second.`


His prison address is:
Seif Abu Seif
Military ID 8065505
Military Prison No. 6
Military Postal Code 01860, IDF
Israel
Fax: ++972-4-9540580
Since the prison authorities often block mail from reaching imprisoned
objectors, we also recommend you to send them your letters of support and
encouragement via e-mail to: messages2prison@newprofile.org (hitting “reply all”
to this message will send the message to the same address), and they will be
printed out and delivered during visits.

Recommended Action
First of all, please circulate this message and the information contained in it
as widely as possible, not only through e-mail, but also on websites, social
networks, conventional media, by word of mouth, etc.
Other recommendations for action:

1. Sending Letters of Support
Please send Seif letters of support to the prison address above and via e-mail
to: messages2prison@newprofile.org

2. Letters to Authorities
It is recommended to send letters of protest on the objectors’ behalf,
preferably by fax, to:
Mr. Moshe Ya`alon,
Minister of Defence,
Ministry of Defence,
Hakirya,
Tel-Aviv 61909,
Israel.
E-mail: s...@mod.gov.il or pniot@mod.gov.il
Tel.: ++972-3-6975220
Fax: ++972-3-6962757
Copies of your letters can also be sent to the commander of the military prison
at:
Commander of Military Prison No. 6,
Military Prison No. 6
Military Postal Code 01860, IDF
Israel
Fax: ++972-4-9540580
Another useful address for sending copies would be the Military Attorney
General:
Denny Efroni,
Chief Military Attorney
Military postal code 9605, IDF
Israel
Fax: ++972-3-569-45-26
It would be especially useful to send your appeals to the Commander of the
Induction Base in Tel-HaShomer. It is this officer that ultimately decides
whether an objector is to be exempted from military service or sent to another
round in prison, and it is the same officer who is ultimately in charge of the
military Conscience Committee:
Gil Ben Shaul,
Commander of Induction Base,
Meitav, Tel-HaShomer
Military Postal Code 02718, IDF
Israel.
Fax: ++972-3-737-60-52
For those of you who live outside Israel, it would be very effective to send
protests to your local Israeli embassy. You can find the address of your local
embassy on the web.
Here is a generic sample letter, which you can use in sending appeals to
authorities on the prisoners’ behalf. Feel free to modify this letter or write
your own:

Dear Sir/Madam,
It has come to my attention that Seif Abu Seif (military ID 8065505), a
conscientious objector to military service, has been imprisoned for the first
time for his refusal to become part of the Israeli army, and is held in Military
Prison no. 6 near Atlit.

The imprisonment of conscientious objectors such as Seif is a violation of
international law, of basic human rights and of plain morals.
I therefore call for the immediate and unconditional release from prison of Seif
Abu Seif, without threat of further imprisonment in the future, and urge you and
the system you are heading to respect the dignity and person of conscientious
objectors, indeed of all persons, in the future.
Sincerely,
3. Letters to media in Israel and in other countries
Writing op-ed pieces and letters to editors of media in Israel and other
countries could also be quite useful in indirectly but powerfully pressuring the
military authorities to let go of the objectors and in bringing their plight and
their cause to public attention.
Here are some contact details for the main media outlets in Israel:
Ma`ariv:
2 Karlibach st.
Tel-Aviv 67132
Israel
Fax: +972-3-561-06-14
e-mail: editor@maariv.co.il Yedioth Aharonoth:
2 Moses st.
Tel-Aviv
Israel
Fax: +972-3-608-25-46 Ha`aretz (Hebrew):
21 Schocken st.
Tel-Aviv, 61001
Israel
Fax: +972-3-681-00-12
Ha`aretz (English edition):
21 Schocken st.
Tel-Aviv, 61001
Israel
Fax: +972-3-512-11-56
e-mail: letters@haaretz.co.il Israel Hayom:
2 Hashlosha st.
The B1 Building
Tel-Aviv
Israel
e-mail: hayom@israelhayom.co.il Jerusalem Post:
P.O. Box 81
Jerusalem 91000
Israel
Fax: +972-2-538-95-27
e-mail: news@jpost.co.il or letters@jpost.co.il
Radio (fax numbers):
Kol-Israel +972-2-531-33-15
and +972-3-694-47-09

Galei Zahal +972-3-512-67-20 Television (fax numbers):
Channel 1 +972-2-530-15-36
Channel 2 +972-2-533-98-09
Channel 10 +972-3-733-16-66
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
We will continue updating on further developments.
Thank you for your support,
New Profile
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