ACTION ALERT – SEPTEMBER 2004
GOOD SHEPHERD VOICES FOR JUSTICE
Human Rights for All
__________________________________________
The Good
Shepherd Voices for Justice ministry monthly presents justice issues consistent
with Gospel values and Catholic social teaching and then offers a call to
action. We believe that as we gain
better understanding of local, national and international issues in light of
the Gospels and the principles of Catholic social teaching, and then speak and
act accordingly, the process will offer opportunities for transformation and
for furthering the reign of God on earth.
With this in mind,
please review this month’s issue and consider taking the recommended
action. We estimate it will take you
only a few minutes to complete this action.
We encourage you also to take time to pray and reflect on the presence
of God in the process.
We welcome
everyone who is interested in letting their voice be heard for God’s justice –
both those in the community of Good Shepherd and beyond.
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Prisoners
fast for humanitarian treatment
More
than 4,000 Palestinian prisoners hold fast
Photo by Kristen Epps,
Palestinian News Network website
THE BACKGROUND
As the voices of local dignitaries and speakers rose in the
background, Latifa said quietly that she had started a hunger strike ten days
ago, to support the prisoners. She has already had to visit the hospital
several times as in her old age her health is failing due to the fast.
Four of
Latifa’s sons are serving life sentences in Israeli jails. Accused of
involvement in resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian towns and
cities, her son Nasser was charged with seven life sentences as well as an
additional 50 years. Another two are still waiting to be put on trial.
We continue to call for human rights
for all, including
those held by
Around half
of the 7,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails started a hunger strike on
As
OUR CONNECTION
As stated
by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops “The Catholic Church
proclaims the central truth that every human person is sacred. Created in God’s
image, every person has fundamental human dignity that comes from God. The
poverty and hunger that diminish the lives of millions are fundamental threats
to human life and dignity and demand a response from believers.” In addition,
Pope Paul II adds “The social message of the Gospel must not be taken as
theory, but above all else a basis and motivation for action.”
Your taking
action today on behalf of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails is
consistent with the call to action raised by our Bishops, our Pope, and is
consistent with the very essence of our Destination Justice journey at Good
Shepherd.
ACTION
You are
invited to register your protests by letter, fax, email, or telephone to the
officials listed below. Ask them to stop the harsh treatment of Palestinian
political prisoners and to accede the demands of the
striking prisoners so that the conditions under which they are imprisoned are
consistent with international norms of human rights and basic decency.
Good
Shepherd Voices for Justice asks that you contact one or more of the officials
listed below. Your message should include some of the demands listed below:
Removal of
glass barrier in visiting areas; increase visit time to one hour instead of 30 minutes;
unrestricted permission of children as in the past; unrestricted permission for
all relatives to visit prisoners; restore family visits on Fridays (Muslim holy
day); and doubling the number of brothers/sisters allowed to visit.
List of
Israeli government officials:
Prime
Minister, Mr. Ariel Sharon
Office of
the Prime Minister
Fax: +972 2
670 54 75
email:
pm_eng@pmo.gov.il
Minister of
Defense, Mr. Shaul Mofaz
Ministry of
Defense,
Tel
Fax: +972 3
(696 27 57) / (691 7915)
email:
sar@mod.gov.il or pniot@mod.gov.il
Minister of
Justice, Mr. Yosef Lapid
Ministry of
Justice
29 Salah
al-Din Street
Fax: +972 2
628 54 92
email:
sar@justice.gov.il
Minister of
Interior Security, Mr. Tzahi Haneghi
Kiryat
Hamemshala,
Tel: +972 2
530 99 99 Fax: +972 2 584 78 72
email: sar@mops.gov.il
Ambassador
Daniel Ayalon
Embassy of
email:
ask@israelemb.org
MORE INFORMATION
Contact Maryknoll at http://home.maryknoll.org/index.php?module=MKArticles&func=display&id=239&office=alert