Campaign calls for early release of Khalida Jarrar following death of her daughter

Human rights organizations have launched a global campaign asking Israel to release Khalida Jarrar from prison following the death of her daughter Suha

July 12, 2021 by Peoples Dispatch
Photo : Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency

A campaign calling for the early release of Palestinian activist Khalida Jarrar was launched following the death of her daughter Suha died on Sunday, July 11. Following the news of her death, several human rights’ groups and individuals launched a #FreeKhalidaJarrar campaign launched on Twitter demanding that Israel release her as soon as possible as it is her right to be present for her daughter’s funeral. The campaign has also launched a signature campaign demanding the same.

Khalida Jarrar is a senior Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) leader and has been serving a two year sentence. 

31-year-old Suha Jarrar was found dead in her apartment near Palestinian Medical complex in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Initial reports indicate she died due to a heart attack. Suha had been active in the campaign for her mother’s release from prison. She was also working with Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq as a principle legal researcher. 

Al-Haq published an obituary on Monday and said that they are in collaboration with other groups and individuals “following all measures to ensure the rights and dignity of Khalida Jarrar, colleague Suha’s mother, to leave the occupation prisons to bid farewell to her precious daughter.”

Khalida Jarrar was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in the last election held in 2006 and serves as the head of its prisoners committee. She was arrested for a fourth time in October 2019 and is serving a sentence for “assuming a position in PFLP” which is a banned organization in Israel. PFLP is a Marxist-Leninist organization formed in 1967. It is the second largest faction in Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

She was previously arrested in 1989, 2014 and 2017 and has also been subjected to torture in Israeli prison. She was released after 20 month’s incarceration in February in 2019. She has also been banned by Israel from traveling outside the country since 1998. 

Khalida Jarrar’s current jail term is set to end in two months.