ISRAEL: CO Seif Abu Seif imprisoned

Seif Abu Seif , a conscientious objector in Israel, has been imprisoned.

At 18-years-old Seif Abu Seif declared his refusal to serve in the Israeli Army at Tal Hashomer. He was sentenced to 20 days in prison for his refusal.

You can send a protest email here.

'How can I take part in jailing and killing my brothers?'
Seif, like Omar Saad - another CO currently imprisoned in Military Prison 6 - is from the Druze community in Israel. In his declaration, Seif wrote "How can I take part in jailing and killing my brothers? How can I identify with the state that confiscated our lands? How can I as a Druz Arab Palestinian stand against those who share with me life, tradition and fate? I cannot imagine that for a second."

Ignoring international standards
Seif Abu Seif claims his human right to conscientious objection, as guaranteed by Article 18 of the ICCPR. In a decision from January 2007, the United Nations Human Rights Committee recognised the right to conscientious objection as a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, as guaranteed by Article 18 ICCPR.

Solidarity
You can send letters of support to:
Seif Abu Seif
Military ID 8065505
Military Prison No. 6
Military Postal Code 01860, IDF
Israel
Fax: +972-4-9540580

Since the prison authorities often block mail from reaching imprisoned objectors, we also recommend you to send them your letters of support and encouragement via e-mail to Seif through New Profile, at messages2prison@newprofile.org.

War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to the Israeli authorities, and Israeli embassies abroad. An email letter to Israel's Minister of Defence can be sent at /node/22770.

A list of Israel's embassies abroad can be found here.

War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of conscientious objector Seif Abu Seif , and all other imprisoned conscientious objectors.

Hannah Brock
War Resisters' International