OPT/Israel: PEN International calls for the immediate release of artists Ahmed Tobasi and Mustafa Sheta, and an end to Israel’s targeting of writers and cultural figures
Photo courtesy of Ahmed Tobasi
13 December: PEN International is gravely concerned to learn the news that prominent Palestinian artist and cultural figure Ahmed Tobasi, the artistic director of West Bank-based The Freedom Theatre, and his colleague Mustafa Sheta, The Freedom Theatre’s producer and general manager were arrested by Israeli forces. PEN International calls for Ahmed Tobasi and Mustafa Sheta to be immediately and unconditionally releases and for an end to the targeting of writers and artists in Palestine.
Earlier today, the Freedom Theatre said that Israeli soldiers had broken into the Theatre in Jenin refugee camp, destroyed its offices, and later stormed the house of its producer and general manager, Mustafa Sheta, tied him up, and arrested him. The Freedom Theatre artistic director, Ahmed Tobasi, was also arrested alongside Sheta. At this point, the reason behind their arrest or their whereabouts remains unclear.
Ahmed Tobasi is an actor, director and educator who was born in Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. He was arrested at the age of 17 and spent four years in Israeli prison before joining The Freedom Theater’s school and later became its artistic director. Tobasi is known for his roles in “The Journey of the Others”, “200 Meters”, and “And Here I Am” in which he unpicks the plight of the Israeli occupation on Palestinians and their everyday struggle.
Founded in 2006, The Freedom Theatre is a theatre and cultural centre in Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, which stages professional theatre productions, holds theatre workshops, acting training, and exhibitions and short films.
In November, PEN International condemned the arbitrary arrest of young Palestinian writer Ahed Tamimi from her house in the occupied West Bank, and called on the Israeli authorities to end their arbitrary arrests and detention of Palestinians, and to unconditionally release all those arbitrarily detained in Israeli prisons. Tamimi was released on 29 November following more than three weeks of arbitrary detention without facing any charges. Following her release, Tamimi spoke of the abuse and the inhumane detention conditions Palestinians are facing in Israeli prisons, where they are being assaulted and forced to sleep on the ground with limited access to adequate food and drinking water.
For more information, please contact Mina Thabet, Head of the MENA Region, at PEN International, email: Mina.Thabet@pen-international.org
