ISM Activist To Fight Illegal Deportation

Friday, 5 December 2003. 12:54 AM.

ISM ACTIVIST TO FIGHT ILLEGAL DEPORTATION

[Tel Aviv, Israel]

Update on International Solidarity Movement volunteer Radhika Sainath of Newport Beach, California, who was arrested earlier today by undercover Israeli Immigration Police after being followed from her first court appearance in a lawsuit against the state of Israel.

At this time Ms. Sainath has been moved from the Holon Immigration Center to Ben Gurion International Airport, where she is being held in preparation for deportation.

Her counsel, Shamai Liebovitz, lodged a formal objection in the Tel Aviv Magistrate Court, where Ms. Sainath has been granted a 9:00 AM hearing in room 359.

Court documents demanding Ms. Sainath's appearance at her morning hearing were delivered to Immigration officials at Ben Gurion International: although the Magistrate Court dispatched the documents specifically to Ben Gurion Immigration, officials there refused to sign for the documents claiming they "had no jurisdiction," and that it was the "responsibility of Tel Aviv Immigration" to see that Ms. Sainath was available to appear in court.

It remains to be seen at this time whether Israeli Immigration officials will attempt to deport Ms. Sainath before her 9:00 AM hearing, without due process of law and in direct violation of court orders.

For more information contact:

Flo: +972 (0)67 361 708 Lisa: +972 (0)52 272 524 ISM Media Office: +972 02 277 4602

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led nonviolent initiative supported by International Peace Activists from all over the world. ISM aims towards ending the Israeli Occupation in Palestine through nonviolent means.

Tel: +97222774602 Fax: +972227744773 e-mail: ism-alert@palsolidarity.org Web: www.palsolidarity.org

© Scoop Media