Heartbreaking Illegal Decision — Contact Congress Now to Free Ahmad

The news about Ahmad is dire: EMAIL CONGRESS NOW

As we speak, he’s being held in a prison hospital due to deteriorating mental health, following  seven months of solitary confinement. 

• Though he was a child when arrested, the court delayed his trial until he was 14 to intentionally try him as an adult.
• On June 22, 2022 the Special Release Committee illegally applied a law that did not exist at the time of his arrest for the purpose of continuing to hold him as an adult. This is especially troubling because even from  the very start, on May 10, 2016,  the court determined that 13 year old Ahmad was not the one who stabbed the victims.
• On June 28th the Special Release Committee will reevaluate the possibility for his release because of his health condition. 

If you are a U.S. constituent, your action is needed NOW, by Monday noon. 

Congress may be the only ones who can intervene — we’re working with Rebuilding Alliance (RA) to schedule Zoom-briefings with each office.  The key is you.  If you live in the U.S.,  use this link to  email your members of Congress and RA will invite you to join the briefing calls for your state and district: 

EMAIL CONGRESS NOW

Right after emailing, pick up your phone and call both your Senators and Representative.  

Here is what to say when you call: 
_________________________________________

> “My name is _____ and I live at _______. I am your constituent and I need your urgent assistance to release Ahmad Manasra from prison, into the care of his doctors and family. He is being held in a prison hospital and nearly comatose– he needs his mom. At the very least, please arrange for his mother to visit.

Psychiatrists have determined that due to his deteriorated health condition, remaining in prison has become a danger to his life. On June 28th the Special Release Committee will reevaluate the possibility for his release because of his health condition. 

 > Please make two calls - to the State Department and the Israeli Embassy

> (1) Call the U.S. State Department to:

• Urge them to press for the immediate release of Ahmad Manasra; and
• Allow Ahmad to see his mother

> (2) Call the Israeli Embassy and request they: 

•  Apply the UN Rights of a Child because Ahmad was only 13 when arrested, especially in light of his deteriorating health; and
• Release Ahmad to the care of his family and doctors

> Let’s get Ahmad Manasra released from prison so he can receive the urgent psychological support he needs. 

• This case is filled with troubling concerns and procedural irregularities that were all on video-tape including mob and police violence during his arrest, a resulting  skull fracture and concussion, and a coerced confession of an incapacitated child, after harsh interrogation without the presence of an attorney or his parents.
• Ahmed was arrested in 2015 when he was only 13. On June 22, 2022,  the Special Release Committee held firm in their retroactive application of law. 
  Arresting a 13 year old, and delaying his prosecution so he could be tried as an adult is a violation of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of a Child.
  Please note: Such ex post facto law is prohibited in constitutions around the world, including the U.S. Constitution.
• He has already been imprisoned for 7 years, two-thirds of his sentence. 
  The UN Convention Against Torture defines any period of time over 15 days in solitary as torture. Ahmad spent over 6 months in solitary confinement. Late last year, the medical report of an Israeli prison psychiatrist warned that his continued solitary confinement would be a danger to his health.  On June 13, 2022 he was urgently transferred from solitary to the prison hospital ward.

> Ahmad needs to be able to see his mother now. Ahmad needs to go home.

> Please make these two calls for me, and call me to let me know how your calls go. My telephone number is: <your phone number>

> I look forward to hearing back from you soon. 

________________________________________________________

Thank you for taking action at this critical time.   Please share with friends and post any replies, suggestions, or questions to the Change.org Discussion Group.