——————————————————–
Islamic Human Rights Commission
——————————————————–
24 July 2003
Prisoners of Faith Alert Update: Campaign to Free Sheikh Obaid kidnapped and held hostage by Israeli regime
1. Introduction
2. Suggested actions
3. Vigil Details
4. Specimen Letters
1. Introduction
Sheikh Abdulkareem Obaid, a Lebanese cleric was kidnapped from his home in the village of Jibchit on 28th July 1989 by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). He is held according to the Israelis with another Lebanese hostage Mustafa Dirani, as a bargaining chip for information about the missing Israeli airforce navigator Ron Arad who was shot down over Lebanon in 1986. Not only have they been tortured, but they remain in solitary confinement, held without charge and refused access to family and friends.
The Campaign to Free Sheikh Obaid has been in existence for some seven years and is run by the Islamic Human Rights Commission. Help commemorate the anniversary of Sheikh Obaid’s kidnap by renewing calls for his release.
For more background to the kidnap see the article, ‘Lebanon’s Forgotten Hostage’:
https://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=264
2. Suggested actions
(i) Attend the vigil outside the Israeli Embassy on Monday 28th July 2003 (see 3 below for more details)
(ii) Send campaign letters / faxes / emails to the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw or to the relevant government Minister in your country (see 4 below for specimen letters). If you would like Sheikh Obaid prisoner of faith postcards to send, please contact IHRC on info@ihrc.org.
(iii) Send similar campaign letters asking for your MP, other politicians, newspapers, Muslim leaders etc. to make representations on behalf of Sheikh Obaid and Mustafa Dirani.
(iv) Download the Prisoners of Faith campaign pack on Sheikh Obaid and Mustafa Dirani from: https://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=740
(v) Pass on flyers regarding Sheikh Obaid to friends and family and help raise awareness. Please contact IHRC if you would like an electronic copy or hard copies mailed to you.
3. Vigil details
IHRC is to hold a vigil on Monday 28th July 2003 to mark the fourteenth anniversary of the kidnap of Sheikh Abdulkareem Obaid. from Lebanon, by Israeli commandos.
To commemorate this event the campaign to free Sheikh Obaid is holding a vigil outside the Israeli Embassy (Kensington High Street, London W8) on Monday 28th July:
Time: from 4pm to 7pm
Tube: High Street Kensington (Circle and District Lines)
Directions:
(1) Turn right from High Street Kensington station and walk two minutes,
(2) Opposite Israeli Embassy, junction of Palace Green and Kensington High Street, London W8.
IHRC has produced a report and campaigners pack into the abduction of Obaid and others from Lebanon, and the atrocities perpetrated on them. To download a copy of the pack visit:
https://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=740
To download a poster for the event click on the download link below:
https://www.ihrc.org.uk/file/03jul22obaidposter.pdf
4. Specimen letters
Your name
Your address, telephone etc.
Date
Address Foreign Secretary or Minister of your country
Dear Sir/Madam,
Re: Sheikh Obaid, Mustafa Dirani and other Prisoners of Faith
I write to express my concern at the continued imprisonment of Sheikh Obaid, Mustafa Dirani and other hostages without charge in Israel.
As your office is aware, Sheikh Obaid especially has been in detention for 14 years now. I am asking you to intercede on the behalf of Sheikh Obaid, Mustafa Dirani and other Prisoners of Faith held by the Israelis and demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
I look forward to hearing from you shortly,
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Your name.
You can write in similar terms to the following :
1. The Prime Minister Tony Blair MP, 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA.
2. Your MP, at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
3. National broad sheet newspapers like The Guardian, The Independent etc.
4. Muslim leaders across the world. You can get their addresses from their embassies in the UK.
For more information please contact us
Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom
Tel: +44-20-8902-0888
Fax: +44-20-8902-0889
email: info@ihrc.org
web: www.ihrc.org
To subscribe to the IHRC mailing list email: subscribe@ihrc.org
To unsubscribe from the IHRC mailing list email: unsubscribe@ihrc.org
