Palestinian Prisoners Day in Copenhagen 

On 17 April 2009, an arrangement on Town Hall Square in Copenhagen marked "Palestinian Prisoners Day". A stage was set up, tents and stands offered informative material. At 3 pm, the arrangement started with music, the purpose of the arrangement was introduced, and the programme announced.  

Speeches were made by Bjørn Elmquist, advocate and chairman of the Danish Judicial Policy Association, Inge Genefke, Honorary Ambassador for the International Centre for Torture Victims, Mogens Lykketoft, Member of Parliament and former Foreign Minister, and Søren Søndergaard, Member of EU Parliament.

Actress Lone Hertz explained her participation and then read a poem by Stig Dalager, "Telmond – End of the World".

Women in Black participated with a one-hour silent manifestation. Between the speeches, the music group Rap Moves performed with Ali Sufi and Afshin, as well as rapper Vakili and the dance group Sirocco with oriental dance. 

Many passers-by stopped to listen, and they were given informative material about conditions for Palestinian prisoners. They wrote postcards to Palestinian women in Israeli prisons and signed petitions to be sent to Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller with the following text:  

Human Rights for All – also for Palestinian prisoners

Dear Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller,    17 April 2009 

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is escalating and has an extremely destructive impact on both peoples. Attempts to find a peaceful solution continue to fail, most recently in connection with Israel's refusal to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

In violation of the 4th Geneva Convention, which Israel has signed, it has been Israel's practice for many years to imprison Palestinians from the occupied territories in prisons inside Israel. At present, there are about 11,000 such prisoners.

According to both Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations, the conditions in the prisons are inhumane and humiliating. Torture* is used; many prisoners have never had a fair trial; and many are administratively detained for months and years. 

I/we appeal to the Foreign Minister to work for mobilizing massive pressure on the Israeli government in order to ensure that Palestinians imprisoned in Israel are treated in accordance with international law.

*See: www.Btselem-publications: The Torture and Ill-treatment of Palestinian Detainees. May 2007. 

539 signatures were sent to the Foreign Minister, together with a cover letter. A copy of the letter was sent to the Danish Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee and the Foreign Policy Council, as well as to members of the EU Parliament.

                  ------------ ------------

Arranger: Human Rights March – Women in Dialog, Palestine-Israel-Denmark, in cooperation with members of Amnesty International, YWCA and YMCA’s Palestine Network.