WOMEN’S DAY: 22 FEMALE PALESTINIAN PRISONERS GROPING FOR FREEDOM

Gaza City, 8 Jumadil Awal 1435/9 March 2014 (MINA) – A human rights society said the female Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails numbered 22, seven of them are tried and 15 detained without charge or trial.

Palestinian Prisoners’ Club stated in a report marking the International Women’s Day that the oldest-serving female prisoner is Lena Jerboni, detained since 2002 and sentenced to 17 years.

While the youngest of the prisoners, 17 of whom are held in Hasharon prison, is Maram Hassouna, with 18 years of age, according to ALRAY, Palestinian Media Agency report quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

A report published recently by Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies and Human Rights showed that most of the female prisoners jailed in the Hasharon prison are suffering from various diseases and are in need of treatment.

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Fouad Khuffash, the director of the center, said Lena Jerboni, from Nablus, suffers from the effects of a gall bladder operation she underwent about six months ago, while Dunya Waked, from Tulkarem, has diabetes and suffers from asthma and shortness of breath.

Inam al-Hasanat, from Bethlehem, is reeling from migraines.

Prisoner Nawal Saadi, from Jenin, 52, who is the eldest of the female prisoners, suffers from high blood pressure, the report said.

Tahrir Alqani, from Nablus district, suffers from severe eye infections since her arrest and her condition is deteriorating if the prison administration fails to provide the necessary treatment.

Nahil Abu Eisha, from Hebron, suffers from severe abdominal pain and is in need of treatment.

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Mona Ka’adan, from Jenin, is suffering from high blood pressure.

Intisar al-Sayad, from Jerusalem, is suffering from respiratory problems because of the congested atmosphere in the small prison rooms with polluted air.

Fouad Khuffash, described the situation inside the Hasharon prison as “catastrophic”, saying, “the prison and its interiors are not adequate for living, and these conditions created by the Israeli occupation which it forces the Palestinian prisoners to live in are punishment. (T/E01/IR)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)