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India: 10m women back BDS, call for Ahed’s release

February 19, 2018 at 4:47 pm

Protest outside the David Cup tennis match between Israel and South Africa, in Pretoria, South Africa on February 3, 2018 [Facebook / bdssouthafrica]

Seven women’s organisations which represent ten million people in India have supported calls to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and for the release of Palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi and other minors held in Israeli jails.

In a statement released last week, the women’s groups said their struggles in India formed the basis of their solidarity with Palestinian women.

“The Indian women’s movements have fought against the deeply hierarchical systems of patriarchy, caste, class and religious divide that our society faces. We understand all too well what militarised patriarchy looks like in everyday life. Our struggle for freedom and justice for women and all oppressed sections of our society is built upon solidarities.”

“We, the undersigned, demand the immediate release of Ahed Tamimi and all Palestinian child prisoners. We further believe that the strongest way to support Ahed’s struggle and the Palestinian quest for justice, freedom and equality is to support the BDS movement.”

Israel is trying to make an example out of Ahed and her family. But they really are a shining example of the courage and resilience- the sumud– of Palestinian resistance.

The declaration was signed by the All India Democratic Women’s Association, Vimochana, Women in Cinema Collective, International Association of Women in Radio and Television – India Chapter, All India Progressive Women’s Association, Janwadi Mahila Samiti – Delhi and Talking About Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues (TARSHI).

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