Tour highlights ill-treatment of Palestinian children by Israeli authorities
Mohammad Salem Abu Eid was 14 years old when he was detained by Israeli forces in February 2008 and accused of throwing stones at the Separation Wall, which cuts through the Palestinian West Bank. He was beaten, interrogated in the absence of a lawyer and family member, persuaded to sign a confession, prosecuted in a military court and sentenced to four months imprisonment.
Whilst in prison, he received no education and no family visits.
Mohammad, accompanied by his mother, Sumya will be speaking about his experiences on a tour of Liverpool, London, Sheffield and Oxford in November 2009.
Also speaking will be: Jihad Alshomali, Juvenile Justice Coordinator, Defence for Children International (Palestine section) and Abdefattah Abusrour, President of Palestinian Theatre League.
Since September 2000, approximately 5,000 Palestinian children under the age of 18 have been arrested by the Israeli authorities in Occupied Palestine.
In February 2008, Israel held 365 juvenile prisoners. Of these, 100 were between 13 and 15-years-old. Almost all children are charged with throwing stones. Typical sentences are between one and four months' imprisonment for those aged between 14 and 17. Some children receive substantially longer sentences.
The UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (Article 37b) states: 'No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitarily.'
Details of meetings - All meeting start at 7 and end at 9pm)
Monday 2, November
Quaker Meeting House, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BT
Chair: Betty Hunter
Guest: Dr. Derek Summerfield
Tuesday 3 November
Mander Hall, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD
Chair: Sir Geoffrey Bindman
Guests: Baroness Helena Kennedy and Christine Blower
Wednesday 4 November
Quaker Meeting House, 10 St James Street, Sheffield S1 2EW
Chair: Hugh Lanning
Guest: Bruce Kent
Thursday 5 November
Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1BX
Chair: Victoria Brittain
Guests: Danny Friedman and Karma Nabulsi