When Indonesian Join Salt Water Challenge

Some participants drinking salt water as part of solidarity with hunger strikes prisoners in Israeli jails. Photo: Rina/MINA

Jakarta, 18 Sha’ban 1438/15 May 2017 (MINA) – A number of Indonesian people join in what so called as Salt Water Challenge as part of their solidarity towards hunger striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails..

At least ten people from different regions in Indonesia participated in the challenge campaign which is meant to be a symbol of solidarity with prisoners who have been feeding on water and salt as the only source of nourishment since April 17, at the Palestinian embassy in Jakarta, Monday (15/5). The event was held by Aqsa Working Group (AWG) in cooperation with the embassy here.

The challenge was initialy launched by Aarab Barghouti, son of imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti who filmed himself drinking salt water in support of his father and other Palestinian political prisoners and, the challenge campaign has gone viral on social media sites,

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Fattah Quddus Al-Ghazi, a 9-year-old from Lampung, Sumatera island, took part in the action. He said his father offered him to try for the sake of his brothers in Palestina, and he said yes for it.

Not only the boy, Encep Zarkasih (70) from Bandung, West Java, expressed his willing to joing the today challenge. He said he is so eager to help his Palestinian brother, but with his old age, he will help as best he can.

The Charge d’Affaires ad interim of the Palestinian Embassy for Indonesia, Taher Hamad expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian people and its government for putting Palestine as top issue in the country.

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“Thanks to the people and the Indonesian government for continuing to support the Palestinians,” he added.

Meanwhile, AWG chairman Agus Sudarmadji said the action was not only a proof of solidarity for Palestinian prisoners, but also at the same time to mark the Nakba Day, the expulsion of 800,000 Palestinians by Israel in 1948 and observed every May 15.

Agus also asserted, the action also as part of unity as Islam teaches us. “We are gathering here is proof of Muslims as one. Like one living organisation. And that Muslim ummah dont sleep,” he said.(L/RE1/RS5)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)