[Fdu] UWO prof David Heap in Israeli jail along with others

[Cynthia Wright]

FYI, note three action items below. 

CALL TO ACTION: HELP FREE CANADIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS

Canadian delegated on board the Canadian Vessel the Tahrir were illegally intercepted by the Israeli Navy on Friday November 4.  The Israeli Military commandeered the boat and took the boats and their passengers to Ashdod port. David Heap and Ehab Lotayef have remained in Givon Prison in Israel ever since. Karen DeVito has been released and deported while the Canadian Government outrageously demanded that she pays for her own airfare. In a letter smuggled out of prison, David Heap reports that he was tasered and beaten by the Israeli military.  Other international delegates were also reportedly beaten as they non-violently refused to be kidnapped from their ship.

We are demanding that the Canadian Government take immediate action to secure David and Ehab's unconditional release.  You can help us and these brave Canadians in a few very simple ways.  

1.  Get your Organizations, Groups, Unions and Affiliations to speak out

If you belong to a social justice organization or group please encourage the membership to contact the Canadian Government on the organization's behalf.  Write, call, and email to demand that the Canadian government insist on the immediate and unconditional release of David Heap and Ehab Lotayef.

2.  Hit the Phones

We need you to keep the pressure on the Canadian government to provide immediate support to the Canadian prisoners to ensure their release from prison.  Below are some phone numbers you can call and some key points to discuss.

Office of the Foreign Minister, John Baird

2249 Carling Ave, Suite 418

Ottawa, Ontario

K2B 7E9

Tel: 613-990-7720

Fax: 613-993-6501

Email: bairdj at parl.gc.ca

Your local MP- find him/her here entering your postal code

http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC

Canadian Consulate in Tel Aviv

Street Address:

3/5 Nirim Street

Tel Aviv, 67060

Israel

Postal Address:

The Embassy of Canada

P.O. Box 9442

Tel-Aviv, 67060

Israel

Tel: (011 972 3) 636-3300

Fax: (011 972 3) 636-3380

Email: taviv at international.gc.ca

Hours of Operation

Main office

Monday to Thursday: 8:00 - 16:30

Friday: 8:00 - 13:30

Points to make

    * The Canadians were detained for over 36 hours before being allowed to make phone contact with family.
    * They remain illegally detained in Israel.
    * The Tahrir was illegally boarded by Israeli military in international waters.  This is an act of piracy.
    * At no time did any of the Canadian delegates or any others on board the Freedom Waves boats want to go to Israel, or sail through Israeli waters.  They were forced by Israeli military to enter Israel.  They were travelling to Gaza.
    * The activists were beaten and violently apprehended.
    * David Heap was beaten and also tasered.

3.  Use Twitter and Social Media to tweet, post and share

Twitter (@CanadaBoatGaza and #freedomwaves), Facebook.com/CanadaBoatGaza, www.tahrir.ca

Join us, spread this call, share and repost the latest information
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