Support and Prayer for the Safe Release of Philip Rizk
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Common Interest - Beliefs & Causes
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At about 8:00pm on Friday the 6th of February, journalist and activist Philip Rizk was abducted by Egyptian national security during a solidarity march to Qalubeyya (north of Cairo) as part of the "To Gaza" campaign. 14 other people were also detained, but everyone except for Philip was released.

This space is dedicated to spreading the news and updates about Philip as raising awareness about the situation in Palestine.

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Support and Prayer for the Safe Release of Philip Rizk

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Support and Prayer for the Safe Release of Philip Rizk
Category:
Common Interest - Beliefs & Causes
Description:
At about 8:00pm on Friday the 6th of February, journalist and activist Philip Rizk was abducted by Egyptian national security during a solidarity march to Qalubeyya (north of Cairo) as part of the "To Gaza" campaign. 14 other people were also detained, but everyone except for Philip was released.

This space is dedicated to spreading the news and updates about Philip as raising awareness about the situation in Palestine.

PLEASE JOIN OUR SISTER SITE FOR DIAA EDDIN... (read more)
Privacy Type:
Open: All content is public.

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News:
This has been brought to my attention. Please consider taking a moment to fight for Adnan and Emin like you did for me.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Information-on-Emin-Milli-and-Adnan-Hadjizadeh/125889860557

I am off to West Africa till the first week of September. More to learn, more to see, more to film.



A little notice for those of you in the vicinity of places.

The World Premiere of This Palestinian Life will be held on March 25th at 21:00 at the Ditshwanelo Human Rights Film Festivalin Garone, Botswana.

The European Premier will be on April 4th at 15:00 at the British Museum (Sackler Rooms)as part of the London International Documentary Festival.

It would be an honor to have you attend. Please pass on to others that may be interested.

For further screenings and information see the film website: www.thispalestinianlife.org

Google has returned my old blog as well, please read on: tabulagaza.blogspot.com

salamat,
Philip



The Veil of Normalization

...

I realized today that i too had forgotten Gaza. In these past days in the elation of freedom i forgot why i had marched, i forgot why i am- to live for the other. That other is still as is, kept from life and the gatekeeper retains her position at the gate while the world looks on.

...

click below to read on


https://tabulagaza.wordpress.com/

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Update from Philip Rizk:

Today is the fourth day of freedom after my four day imprisonment. Every once in a while I am hit by the incomprehensible contrast between absolute freedom and absolute confinement. During those four long days I didn't do much else but be interrogated, sleep or try to sleep.

Before I go into any other details I want to say shukran, thank you, really. I am overwhelmed by the response of family, friends and strangers all around the world during my imprisonment. As the stories started bombarding me after my release it was hard to take it all in. I have no words to express how grateful I am to so many. At one point one of my interrogators- they called him "Malek"- ended a session by saying, "the next time you will tell me about all these international relationships of yours," I had no idea what he was referring to. I really believe that the pressure from so many places and people made a big difference in my quick release.

Diaa Gad is an Egyptian blogger who was taken the very same day I was. I had spoken to him for the first time a few days before Egyptian "state" security kidnapped both of us from difference places. Diaa had called to ask about details about our march to Gaza. As we knew our phones would be tapped I told him we could not gave any details over the phone and asked for us to meet the following day in person. He never called again but his name came up during interrogation- again with "Malek"- who asked me what I knew about Diaa and then proceeded to tell me word for word what I had said to him on the phone that day. Diaa does not have many of the luxuries that I have being bi-national and having lived abroad. At this point he is still in custody and his lawyer and family do not know his whereabouts. The campaign that was started for me needs to move to him and others. These sorts of actions are completely illegal and yet a common occurrence in Egypt. Currently there are thousands in Egyptian jails without trial. We need to stand up and reject these actions. This brings us back to the start of those four days...

I was held for four days- blindfolded, handcuffed almost at all times. The psychological pressure was intense though at no point was I physically harmed. At the time of my arrest I was protesting the siege on Gaza. This is a criticism aimed primarily at Israel but also at other countries that support this siege including Egypt which keeps its borders sealed except for rare exceptions. My four days of imprisonment are nothing compared to the months and years of siege on Gaza, which is nothing else than forced imprisonment. The Gaza Strip is a different form of concentration camp. No Palestinian- whether students, the sick, businessmen and women- can travel beyond its borders and Israel permits only a very very few internationals to enter. These- mainly journalists and NGO workers like I used to be- remind me of zoo visitors that take pictures and talk about the terrible conditions of the animals in their cages but then leave, in the meantime Gaza remains the same. According to the UN 85% of Gazans are reliant on food aid, again like animals in a zoo they are fed and kept alive, but barely. Leaked reports from the Red Cross recently reported high percentages of malnutrition of children especially in the refugee camps- 70% of Gazans are refugees from 1948. The purpose of our protest march was and continues to be to raise awareness of the ongoing siege on Gaza building on the momentum of protest during the Israeli military onslaught on Gaza at the start of this year.

Your outrage about my unjustified imprisonment mirrors my outrage about this ongoing injustice done to the Palestinian people. If our governments and representatives the world over will not change the status quo we- the multitude- must mobilize, on the streets, in the cyber sphere, in government, in schools, anywhere to call for change. Such an outrage changed South Africa not that long ago and it can change the injustice carried out against Palestinians today.


Email us your ideas and actions here: info@togaza.net

Follow up with us here: togaza.net

Read on here: electronicintifada.net and here: Tabulagaza.wordpress.com

My film "This Palestinian Life" about non-violent resistance in Palestinian villages will be screening in various locations around the world. The site will be up in a weeks time at: www.thispalestinianlife.org

(My interrogators stole all my old email addresses and blogs, my domain name (tabulagaza.com) will link to a new blog (tabulagaza.wordpress.com) and contact me on facebook for my new email address.)


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LATEST UPDATE FROM THE RIZK FAMILY

Friday, Feb. 13th 10:00am
We are working on posting a statement.
In the meantime you can get an update from the media.
In English: View the NY Times article on the discussion board below.
In German:
http://www.spiegel.de/unispiegel/studium/0,1518,607150,00.html
Thank you


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Wednesday, Feb. 11th 2:00pm

Please be aware that all email addresses previously owned by Philip have been compromised.
For the time being, Philip requests that all personal messages be sent to his facebook mailbox.


Wednesday February 11th, 4:00am

Philip is out, he is safe and home with his family.
He requests that all upcoming planned protests and marches still take place to end siege on Gaza.

More details to come soon.
Please do not call the family members at this time.

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Monday Feb. 9th 7:15 pm

This afternoon it was discovered that the secret police were at Philip and Jeannette Rizk’s residence, most likely while the family home was being searched in the early morning hours. Philip's hard drives, cameras, iPod, as well as several boxes of books, including both intellectual and material property are missing from the apartment. No money was taken.

The intruders used Philip’s key to get into the apartment, and left it behind on a desk. At this point it is unclear what they were looking for. Although no “incriminating” evidence of any sort could possibly be found –as none exists– the impunity with which personal property was taken is deeply disturbing.


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Monday Feb. 9th 5:40 am

At 1:30am when we had just gone to bed the doorbell rang. 5 plain clothed men and two in full riot gear and machine guns stood outside our door. They wanted to enter to search the house. We found out that they were looking for evidence against Philip. Two men entered and began searching through the papers of our home office. In the meantime we contacted a German Embassy official and a professor from AUC as well as some friends. They all came immediately many others were awake and praying.


The police left but returned soon after to ask my father to go with them and write up a report about the fact that they had searched our home. Of course, we did not trust them. Then they insisted to pass by his office where they would continue the search. In the meantime Amnesty International had contacted us and an wonderful lawyer arrived just in time to firmly tell the secret police that they could not take any further actions without a police warrant. We closed and locked the front door and settled in to see what would happen next. The secret police was waiting downstairs for orders that never came. At 5a.m. they finally left.


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Sunday, Feburary 8th, 2009
WE HEARD FROM AUC OFFICIALS THAT THEY TALKED TO A GENERAL IN THE STATE SECURITY. HE HAS CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE HOLDING PHILIP BUT THAT HE WILL BE DETAINED FOR A LONGER PERIOD FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THIS CAN BE CONSIDERED AS THE FIRST OFFICIAL RESPONSE.

Sunday, February 8th, 2009:

We attended the rally at the American University. The Head of AUC security has been following Philip’s case. He seems to think that Philip is being held in one of the two branches of State Security in Nasr City, although we do not know at which. My parents will be going to inquire about him at both locations tonight.

Sadly this was all the news we were able to get today. We will continue to post updates as we receive them.

Jeannette and the family.

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Phil's parents went to the High Court downtaown Cairo to file a complaint with the General Prosecutor against State Security for abducting Philip.

A lot of friends have gathered outside the Court house to show support and solidarity.The American University is involved as well as the German Embassy (who was told at first by the Sate Security that nobody called Philip had been arrested, later they did acknowledge he was there).

Meanwhile through other contacts we were able to locate Philip, he is being held by State Security at their headquarters in downtown Cairo.

Should you be contacted by the media about Philip's situation we ask that you refer the request to one of the immediate family members. Phil's safety and release is our first concern.

Contact info for Jeannette Rizk, Philip's sister
jfrizk@gmail.com

For more background read:
http://tabulagaza.blogspot.com/
(Philip's blog has been shut down by state security)
http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=18931
http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=19600

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