[View the story "No Flags Raised for Footballer's Strike " on Storify ]No Flags Raised for Footballer's Strike As fans around the world follow the Euro 2012 tournament, activists draw attention to a Palestinian footballer's hunger strike. Storified by The Stream · Fri, Jun 22 2012 15:24:24
Palestinian prisoner remains on hunger strikealjazeeraenglish
Filmmaker
Abdelkarim El-Fassi recently created a video of Dutch politicians and citizens supporting Sarsak and denouncing Israel's practice of administrative detention.
Dutch play soccer for Palestinian hunger strikers #sarsak90zoukamedianl
Dutch and proud that my country supports #sarsak90 and all #palestinians who are on hunger strike -- http://www.sarsak.org | FF @AbdelkarimoBoutaïna Azzabi
Although Sarsak's hunger strike has ended, El-Fassi decided to release the video to raise awareness about Israel's existing policy of holding prisoners without trial, according to the press release on his
website .
Mahmoud Sarsak released? What about the rest. #end #administrative #detention #IsraelAbdelkarim El-Fassi
This poster reads, in Arabic, "Mahmoud Sarsak, the Palestinian prisoner and football player on the national team has been on hunger strike for three months". The tweet below, in French, reads, "I love football but one must remain human".
j'aime le foot mais il faut savoir rester humain #MahmoudSarsak #SaveFootballerSarsak#Euro2012 #FranceAngleterre http://pic.twitter.com/XbZmYR1lKarim عبد الكريم
@aymanqwaider tweets this
Carlos Latuff cartoon and adds, "The football player and Palestinian political prisoner Mahmoud Sarsak is dying after 85 days on hunger strike".
le footballeur palestinien prisonnier politique #MahmoudSarsak en grève dela faim depuis 85j se meurt #FranceAngleterre http://pic.twitter.com/P8gZq9BmAyman Qwaider
Interview with the family of Mahmoud Al Sarsak, Palestinian National Soccer player on hunger striketheimeu
"(Mahmud) Sarsak ended his hunger strike," Israel Prisons Service spokeswoman Sivan Weizman told AFP, saying he had taken the decision to end his fast after consulting his lawyer and the prison administration.But Sarsak's family in Gaza, as well as the Palestinian Prisoners' Club in Ramallah, denied he had ended his strike.
But Sarsak's supporters say the strike is ongoing:
The intake of milk does not end a hunger strike. #MahmoudSarsakDeema
#MAHMOUDSARSAK reportedly is ONLY drinking milk to postpone death for his trial on THURSDAYoccupiedpalestine
Dave Zirin, a sports writer for
The Nation , took to his column to criticise international football bodies for not taking action to penalise Israel.
Imagine if a member of Team USA Basketball—let’s say Kobe Bryant—had been traveling to an international tournament only to be seized by a foreign government and held in prison for three years without trial or even hearing the charges for which he was imprisoned. Imagine if Kobe was allowed no visitation from family or friends.
This is an urgent and final distress call from captivity, slow and programmed death inside the cells of so-called Ramle Prison hospital, that you know that your sons and brothers are still struggling against death and you pay no attention to them and do not remember their cause – as if, after the end of the general strike all the demands of the prisoners were met.
On Tuesday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he was gravely concerned about Sarsak's detention:
"The reports FIFA received state that, in apparent violation of their integrity and human rights and without the apparent right of a trial, several Palestine football players have allegedly been illegally detained by Israeli authorities.
About time FIFA objected to Israel's depraved treatment of Mahmoud Sarsak, Palestinian soccer player held without charge 3 yrs. @MLS @FIFAAndrea Whitmore
Lending his name to Sarsak's list of supporters is former Manchester United star Eric Cantona:
Eric Cantona endorses campaign to save Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak from Israeli jail (Red Card Israeli Apartheid press release)Asa Winstanley
Eric Cantona calls 4 the release of Palestinian Footballer Mahmoud Sarsak in his letter to Sports Minister n UEFA President Michel PlatiniTALIB AL ILM
Eric Cantona has taken up the case of Palestinian hunger striker and football player Mahmoud Sarsak. Bravo Monsieur Cantona!David Cronin
Activists have also taken to social media to apply pressure on their own governments to take a tougher stance towards Israel:
This is what "administrative detention" is and why no army should be allowed to try civilians -- not even "the most moral army in the world", the IDF.Sarsak is only the most determined of hundreds of prisoners (some children) who are held for months, even years, without charges. There are thousands of others who have been tried by a "court" that has a 97% conviction rate. Ask your Conservative MP why Canada cheer-leads for the Occupation. Look for the movie "The Law in These Parts".John Turnbull
Gilad Shalit was on the lips of world leaders. Why the silence for Mahmoud Sarsak, no charge or trial in Israeli jail? #SaveFootballerSarsakBen White
Others have shown their dismay at Sarsak's treatment in prison:
Whatever happened to their sense of humanity? How can they deny him proper medical treatment? Jenni Stuart-Anderson
Shame on Israeli Assaf Harofeh Hospital for denial of treatment from the dying Palestinian footballer. The hospital is colluding with the prison to intentionally maximise the damage to Mahmoud's body, preventing him from recovering and likely condemning Sarsak to death. Write to ASSAF HAROFEH MEDICAL CENTER: assaf@netguide.co.il Plz e-mail them.Nasser Mashadi
Not everyone agrees that Sarsak should be released:
Mahmoud Sarsak is a so called Palestinian- football player - same way as i am a flying Dutchman . #israelgilhal
@occpal Mahmoud Sarsak is a terrorist, a member of Islamic Jihad. Better he die than be released to murder people. #FootballsHero my arse!Les Seavor
The Israeli prime minister's spokesman took to Twitter in defence of Sarsak's detention:
Int'l law recognizes use of administrative detention in combative areas, as does article 78 of the 4th Geneva Convention #MahmoudSarsakOfir Gendelman
The prime minister's office was seemingly convinced of the footballer's guilt.
Even if a terrorist plays soccer, it does not change the fact that he is still a terrorist #MahmoudSarsakOfir Gendelman
Sarsak's supporters have been using creative and peaceful methods of protest to draw attention to the cause.
Creative protest in support of Mahmoud SarsakAJstream
PHOTO: playing football in front of #Ofer prison today in support of Sarsak http://pic.twitter.com/I9HgLn2gMaath Musleh
Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
"Samidoun" has been waging a web campaign for the humane treatment and release of Sarsak:
Protests have taken place across Europe and more action is urgently needed. As the world’s eyes are on the best in soccer, take action for a true football hero – Mahmoud Sarsak – whose life is on the line for his freedom, and for dignity and justice for all Palestinians.TAKE ACTION!
