Call to Action Following the Arrest of Lecturer and Researcher Saddie Choua
With great concern, we have learned that our lecturer and PhD student Saddie Choua has been detained by the Israeli military. She was participating in the non-violent humanitarian mission of the Global Sumud Flotilla when the vessel was intercepted in international waters.
This is a violation of international law. Ships in international waters have the right to navigate freely. Humanitarian missions are furthermore protected by international treaties.
The last contact with the ship Estrella Y Manuel — on which Saddie was sailing — dates from last night. At that time, she reported seeing military vessels approaching. In her final communication with the newspaper De Morgen, she said: “Even if the interception is violent, we will not resist and will remain non-violent. We have received training in appropriate non-violent interaction in such cases. And we stand by our position that we are doing nothing wrong. We are civilians on a humanitarian flotilla. We want Israel to lift the blockade, but also for the genocide to stop.” Saddie’s distress message and appeal, along with those of the other participants in the mission who have since been detained, can be viewed at: https://globalsumudflotilla.org/sos/
Would you like to support Saddie and the other passengers? Through this link, you can call on governments and foreign ministries to demand their release and advocate for an end to the siege and genocide: https://globalsumudflotilla.org/contact-officials/
RITCS school of arts expresses its full support and solidarity with Saddie and all other passengers. Our thoughts are with their safety and well-being.
We call on the Belgian government to take urgent action. It must make it clear that this is a violation of international law. Furthermore, we ask Belgium to work actively for the protection and safe return of all those on board.
