FREE MUSTAFA SHETA
Mustafa Sheta is a Palestinian writer & producer and General Manager at The Freedom Theatre. On the 13th of December 2023, he was forcibly taken at gunpoint by Israel from his home. Mustafa, along with over 9,500 Palestinians, remains held captive under appalling and inhumane conditions.
OVERVIEW
INVASION OF JENIN & ARREST OF ARTISTS
The 12th, 13th and 14th of December saw an intensive invasion in Jenin, with an estimated 300 people arrested by the Israeli army and twelve Palestinians killed. On the morning of the 13th of December, the Israeli army began attacking and ransacking The Freedom Theatre. They shot from inside the theatre, destroying the offices. The army then went to the homes of artist Ahmed Tobasi and Producer of The Freedom Theatre Mustafa Sheta where they were blindfolded, handcuffed and taken away. That evening the army went to the home of artist Jamal Abu Joas and severely beat him and then took him. Ahmed Tobasi was released the next day and Jamal Abu Joas was released after eight days. Mustafa Sheta remains in prison.
TIMELINE
13th DECEMBER 2023 - “Arrest” Mustafa was violently taken from his home at gunpoint by Israel during an intensive three-day invasion in Jenin. ACROSS DECEMBER 2023 - Investigation Mustafa was transferred to Salem prison for investigation. He later told the lawyer the questions were: "Are you affiliated with an organization? Do you engage in political activity?" MID DECEMBER 2023 - Jamal sees Mustafa Actor, Poet and Educator Jamal Abu Joas, who hadalso been arrested saw Mustafa in prison, where they were both being held. Mustafa said to him, “Let's make a theatre in prison and we can work from here” END OF DECEMBER 2023 - 1st Vist By Lawyer Mustafa's lawyer was allowed a ten-minute visit with Mustafa 31st DECEMBER - “Trial” and Sentencing Mustafa's "trial" was in a closed military court, and only the lawyer could enter. Mustafa received six months of administrative detention. APRIL 2024 - Renewed Sentence Unknown to Mustafa’s family and lawyer, he had a second court appearance, during which he was told that his initial sentence was, in fact, four months. Israel then renewed his sentence for another four months. JULY 2024 - 2nd Vist By Lawyer In July 2024, Mustafa’s lawyer was allowed contact for a second time and was provided an update on his sentencing in April. In the brief conversation with the lawyer in July, Mustafa expressed that he misses his family very much, emphasised his ongoing commitment to his work in theatre, and urging his colleagues to continue. NOVEMBER 2024 - Renewed Sentence In November 2024, Mustafa Sheta's sentence was renewed for another four months.
MUSTAFA "ARREST" IN 2015
In 2015, Mustafa was taken by the Israeli army and held in Administrative detention for six months. At that time, Mustafa was the secretary of the Board of The Freedom Theatre. As a researcher and journalist, he was well-known for his social and humanitarian activism. He also worked at the United Nations and studied for a Master’s degree at the Arab American University. Upon his release in 2015, he lost his job at the United Nations. However, their loss was The Freedom Theatre’s gain and he became the Producer in 2017.
ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION
"Trials" by the Israeli occupying army, are normally judged by a military officer. There is no justice or judicial process and military orders always take precedence over Israeli and international law. On the rare occasions when international law is used, it is done so to favour the occupying power. Administrative detention is a system of imprisonment Israel uses under the guise of preventative security that requires no charges or trial. Detainment is by order of the regional military commander, based on “secret” evidence, which, therefore, cannot be disproven and most likely does not exist. First introduced during the British Mandate, imprisoned popular poet Nuh Ibrahim, noted in his diary about “new laws” that jailed mass scholars using fabricated charges. A sentence of administrative detention can be up to six months but can be renewed indefinitely. The longest recorded detainment under administrative detention is eight years. Imprisonment through military trial and Administrative Detention is predominantly only used against Palestinians. This includes Palestinians who live in 48 and have Israeli citizenship. Poet Doreen Tatour from Nazareth was both imprisoned and then put under house arrest for nearly three years on charges of “incitement to violence and support for terror organisations”. These were similar charges Nur Ibrahim was convicted of by the British Mandate.
ISRAEL'S IMPRISONMENT OF PALESTINIANS
Since 1967, over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained and imprisoned by the Israeli military. It is a tactic used to destroy Palestinian society, cause widespread trauma and fear and suppress those who speak out, including artists. In September 2024, B’tselem has reported that 9,440 Palestinians are being held by Israel, with 242 of them children, according to Defence For Children. Mustafa’s lawyer relayed that the conditions for Palestinians being held are extremely harsh. Multiple human rights organsations, including Amnesty International and the Red Cross, have condemned Israeli torture and violence towards the Palestinians they hold captive and the deteriorating conditions inside the prisons. “The lack of food, the violence and ill-treatment and the denial of access to medical care, have contributed to the deterioration of health and, in some instances, the death of Palestinian detainees. In addition, prisoners have reported violence against them leading to serious injuries which remained untreated.” - Report from the UN Human Rights Office Mustafa is being held in Megiddo prison located in Israel (historically Palestine). Under Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, all Palestinian detainees are supposed to be held in the West Bank. Therefore any Israeli violation of this Article attracts personal criminal liability.
TESTIMONIES
HALA SHETA
14 year old daughter to Mustafa
I woke up to the sound of an explosion at the entrance to the main door of the house. I was surprised that the army had surrounded and entered our home. I didn't know what was going on. I found a soldier in front of me, and he pointed his weapon as he took me to the sitting room. My family were already there in a state of tension. My father was still in his bedroom putting on his clothes because he knew they had come to take him. The army asked us, “Whose house is this?” and their questions continued until my father came out and said, “This is Mustafa Sheta’s house”. They put him against the wall, searched him and asked for his ID. It was in another room, so they asked my mother to bring it. Two soldiers accompanied her the whole time. They took all our phones, even throwing one on the ground and breaking it. I had my hands in my pockets, and the soldier thought I had something in my possession and forced me to take them out. They searched my mother’s bag but luckily, when my family heard the soldiers were coming, they hid everything, so they couldn’t find anything valuable to steal. Meanwhile, they put my father against the wall, tied his hands behind him and filmed him with their devices. As they started to leave my little brother cried out, “Where are you taking my father?” He was screaming and the soldier went to hit him. They told us to stay inside the house and not move. Then they left, taking my father with them… My father, the most precious person in my life and my friend. I cannot be without him. I need him very much, and I want him to come back as soon as possible so I can hug him. If I could speak to my father now I would tell him: If only you knew how much I love you and how much I miss you. If I went back in time and knew that this would happen, I would never leave you again. Not once did I expect to be in this situation, and to have this feeling.
RASHA ABU MOAIS
Wife to Mustafa
He was arrested 13/12/2023 from our house in the city of Jenin where he was handcuffed and taken in front of our children with no mercy or any consideration to our feelings. My children spent their night crying. We felt so scared without him being around with us. We feel very sad for him being away, especially since we don't know why he was arrested. The lawyer told me what happened in court and that we cannot do anything. They are in “a state of war” and the army is the one who decides the fate of the prisoners We call for everyone who can help us to stand with my husband and release him from this occupation.