Mideast situation/NGOs/Arrests in Haifa – Letter from CEIRPP Chairman

Letter dated 18 November 1983 from the Chairman of the Committee on

the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

addressed to the Secretary-General

I wish to draw your attention to the fact that on 17 October 1983 the Israeli authorities arrested Mr. Mohammad Mi’ari and Mr. Maysara Sayyid, both of Haifa, on the grounds that they were in breach of security law because they had attended the International Conference on the Question of Palestine in Geneva last month and had, during that Conference, met with representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization in working sessions of the Conference.

Mr. Mi’ari and Mr. Sayyid were attending the Conference at the invitation of the United Nations and were representing their organizations, namely, the Friends of the Prisoners Association and the Abna Al-Balad Movement (Movement of the Sons of the Country), respectively, both non-governmental organizations based in Israel.

I understand that they have since been released from custody, but that their movements have been restricted to the town of Haifa for the next six months. It is possible also that similar action will be taken against other participants from Israel in the Conference.

On behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I wish to protest against this discriminatory action, which amounts to an act of intimidation since the two persons arrested were merely pursuing their legitimate activities on behalf of their organizations at a conference organized under United Nations auspices.

I should be grateful if you would convey to the Israeli authorities the Committee's concern and urge them to lift the restrictions placed on Mr. Mi’ari and Mr. Sayyid.

I should be grateful if this letter could be issued as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 33, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Massamba SARRE

Chairman

Committee on the Exercise of the

Inalienable Rights of the

Palestinian People

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