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Abdulsalam Dallal Activist Sarah Hegazi 1 out NOW MENA Solidarity Research Report No.1

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Abdulsalam Dallal Activist Sarah Hegazi 1 out NOW MENA Solidarity Research Report No.1 Middle East Solidarity Issue 14 • Summer 2020 • £3 Occupation in a time of coronavirus A monument Sudanese Syria protests Raising Annexation to dictatorship healthworker rise again the flag for and apartheid Al-Sisi’s obsession with speaks out A spirit of solidarity and liberation Israel’s land grab in the West Bank has a long building Egypt’s New Sarah Abdelgalil on resistance is growing Alice Finde remembers history, writes Miriam Administrative Capital challenging injustice across the country again courageous Egyptian Scharf analysed by Fareid Atta from the UK to Sudan says Abdulsalam Dallal activist Sarah Hegazi 1 OUT NOW MENA Solidarity Research Report No.1 Middle East Solidarity is backed by By Hamza Hamouchene, Samir Larabi and Shelagh Smith Contents include: A year of the Hirak - History of the Algerian workers’ movement - The struggle in Kabylia - Teachers drive union change - Trade unions and the Hirak - Britain’s role in Algeria - Political prisoners and repression - A guide to solidarity action AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AT WWW.MENASOLIDARITYNETWORK.COM 2 About us vents in the Middle East often Edominate the news, but it is war, sectarian violence and western military intervention Illustration: AshrafIllustration: Omar which grab the headlines. Middle East Solidarity shows a different side to the region. We report on resistance to repression and imperialism from Morocco to Yemen, covering the strikes and protests which are missed by the mainstream media. We carry the voices and stories of the women and men who are still fighting for bread, freedom and social justice to new audiences. Contents Our practical guides to campaigning and resources for 11 Al-Sisi’s capital folly activists aim to build a stronger Cover story solidarity movement. The grandiose plans to create a new 14 Annexation and apartheid Middle East Solidarity is a capital city for Egypt are testament joint project of MENA Solidarity The planned annexation of large to Al-Sisi’s determination to Network, Egypt Solidarity parts of the West Bank by Israel are prevent a repeat of the mass part of a longer history of strategic Initiative and Bahrain Watch, and protests which led to revolution is supported by funding from UCU, colonisation and settlement in 2011, argues Fareid Atta. Far building reports Miriam Scharf. PCS, NEU - NUT section and a from creating a sustainable new number of Trades Union Councils city to relieve the pressure of and local trade union branches. 16 Occupation in a time of overcrowding in Cairo, housing in Find out more here: coronavirus the New Administratrive Capital www.menasolidaritynetwork.com Palestinians are facing the trauma will be only available to the rich. www.egyptsolidarityinitiative.org of lockdown in a context of www.bahrainwatch.org intensifying Israeli occupation. Dave Clinch and Oisin Challen Comment Editors: Flynn spoke to Palestinian activists 6 Raising the flag for Anne Alexander, Irang Bak, Luke G.G. Bhatia, Helen Patuck, Alice from Hebron and Bethlehem about liberation Finden, Ameen Nemer, Shelagh how they are continuing to resist. Sarah Hegazi was a courageous Smith and Miriam Scharf. fighter against injustice and First person oppression and an inspiration to Publisher: the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights far Middle East Solidarity 6 ‘Covid 19 has exposed beyond Egypt, says Alice Finden. Publications, c/o MENA Solidarity, injustice globally’ PO Box 71143, London, SE18 9NZ Sudanese healthworkers are Email: [email protected] fighting on two fronts against News reports Covid 19 and systemic injustice 5 ‘The regime wants to put Design: both in the UK and Sudan, argues us in cages’ - repression Anne Alexander and Ben Windsor Sarah Abdelgalil intensifies in Algeria 7 Sudan sit-ins spread in wake Features of anniversary protests 6 A spirit of solidarity Despite fierce repression and Campaign reports the devastating effects of war, 24 Demonstrations against regime-controlled areas in Syria British shame over Yemen have recently witnessed a wave of war; Protests against Israeli protests. Abdulsalam Dallal reports annexation across Britain; on how activists have found ways Egyptian political prisoners to mobilise. at risk 3 News | Algeria ALGERIA ‘The regime wants to put us in cages’ Shelagh Smith eventeen months after Sthe protest movement, or Hirak, exploded onto the streets of Algeria in Journalist Khaled Drareni remains in jail | Photo: Zoheir Aberkane February 2019, there has assembly", "publication the integrity of the national CNLD (National Committee been no fundamental which could harm the territory". for the Liberation of change to the system since national interest" and He was first arrested Detainees) estimates that independence in 1962. "endangering the lives of in September 2019 and nearly 60 Hirak detainees The demand remains for others during the period of kept in prolonged solitary are still in prison, most a civil, not a military state. confinement". confinement. In March he of them for Facebook Protesters demonstrated The three are: former was sentenced to one year publications. peacefully every week until detainee, Merzoug Touati, for a speech on his party's Algerian President mid-March 2020, when the a blogger and journalist Facebook page where he Abdelmadjid Tebboune authorities banned marches for L'Avant-Garde Algérie, criticised the role of the hinted of other prisoner due to the coronavirus whose website is blocked in army in politics. He still releases, judging that outbreak - although the the country; Yanis Adjila, faces trial this September the country was moving opposition had already a human rights activist; for "damaging army morale". towards a "much calmer" suspended them. Amar Beri, an activist of the political climate. Despite a few prisoner Hirak. “The prison is But the only action that releases in July, opponents, Several other news sites would show the regime journalists, independent like lematindalgerie.com are a factory to has any intention of media and internet users blocked in Algeria. transform anger addressing the demands have been increasingly On the same day, the into political of the movement would persecuted by Algerian Bejaïa court released two be the immediate and authorities for expressing other activists, Khaled energy” - Karim unconditional release of all critical opinions in the Tazaghart (a resigned MP) Tabbou activists. Tebboune unveiled midst of the Covid 19 and Zahir Moulaoui (a his constitutional reform pandemic, with more former policeman), with Amira Bouraoui, project promising more frequent arrests and jail six months’ suspended a gynaecologist and rights and freedoms, at the sentences. sentences. prominent activist, was same time as authorities Recently, the Algerian The prosecution had also released provisionally, are incarcerating and League for the Defense of demanded one year and two together with Samir prosecuting anyone who Human Rights (LADDH) years respectively. They had Benlarbi and Slimane speaks up and tells the found that the majority been arrested on July 1 at a Hamitouche who had been truth. of political detainees face rally in support of Merzoug detained since March for Interviewed on Berbère vague charges such as Touati, Yanis Adjlia and "harming national unity" Télévision after his release, "undermining national Amar Berri. and "illicit gathering". Karim Tabbou said "The unity", "harming national On the same day, July 2, Significantly, the best way to make Spring is security" and "harming the four well known figures of journalist Khaled Drareni to release all the birds from army's morale", often based the protest movement were was not released at the their the cages," referring to on social media posts. also released, although three same time. Drareni, a the Hirak prisoners. Three activists of the of them provisionally: correspondent for Reporters "The regime wants to put Hirak were released from Karim Tabbou, one of the Without Borders (RSF), is in us in cages, this is the trap. prison on July 2. They had most prominent figures of pre-trial detention, having As long as people sing inside been arrested on June 12 the movement and founder been arrested in March the cages, it doesn't bother in Bejaia, Kabylia, during a of the UDS (Democratic because of his reporting of them". He added "The prison rally to support detainees. and social union), was demonstrations in Algiers. is a factory to transform The prosecution had provisionally released, The day before, six other anger into political energy". demanded three years in having been sentenced to activists had received a Take action online at www. prison for "inciting unarmed one year for "undermining presidential pardon. But the menasolidaritynetwork.com 4 News | Sudan Top Left: Women join protests in Abu Jubaiha, a town of 20,000 people in South Kordofan. Top Right: Mobilising in Niyala. Bottom Left: Wadi Halfa’s Resistance Committee takes to the streets. Bottom Right: Crowds mass for rally in El Obeid on 30 June. Independent station Radio Dabanga reported on mass marches in Khartoum, Port Sudan, Dongola, El Geneina, El Obeid, and all of the camps for the internally displaced in Darfur. | Photos: SPA via Facebook SUDAN Protesters are frustrated action against militiamen “participants in the vigil at the lack of structural who continue to terrorise held banners saying “We are Sit-ins change, more than a year agricultural communities all Nierteti!” and “Security after the fall of dictator El with violent attacks. and peace are rightful spread on Bashir.. Independent radio In Darfur, demonstrators demands”. protest station Radio Dabanga organised sit-ins calling for The question of justice reported on mass marches action against militiamen for protesters killed anniversary in Khartoum, Port Sudan, who continue to terrorise in Khartoum at the Dongola, El Geneina, El agricultural communities. violent dispersal of the Anne Obeid, and all of the camps Solidarity protests spread sit-in outside the army for the internally displaced again across Sudan after headquarters on 3 June last Alexander in Darfur. militiamen riding camels, year and the new wave of The Sudanese horses, and motorcycles sit-ins in Darfur are deeply Professionals Association, killed at least 9 people at the connected.
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