Al-Najah University hosts workshop to mark Palestinian Prisoners Day

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

On Wednesday, 13.04.2011, the Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture held a workshop entitled “Our prisoners are free, however high the walls”. The workshop marked Palestinian Prisoners Day which falls on 17.04.2011 and was held in the Martyr Zafer al-Masri theatre at the al-Najah National University as part of activities to commemorate Palestinian Prisoners day.

---

Workshop topics dealt with several humanitarian and social issues affecting prisoners held in jails run by the Israeli occupation, including the impact of the detention of women and children; the conditions of detention and Israeli violations of prisoner rights.

Prisoners Day marks the date that the first Palestinian prisoner to be released in a prisoner exchange deal with Israel, Mahmoud Bakr Hijazi, was freed in 1974. During The Palestinian National Council’s session that same year, it adopted the 17th of April as day dedicated to the freedom of prisoners and the justice of their cause. In support and appreciation of this cause, Palestinian Prisoner’s Day was adopted by the 20th Arab Summit in Damascus to become Arab Prisoners Day.

MEMO Photographer: Ibtehal Mansour