‘It is either freedom or death’ says wife of Palestinian hunger striker 

Hunger striker’s family tells of loving family man and dedicated journalist striving for justice 

A Palestinian boy walks past a mural depicting Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qiq, during a demonstration on 1 February, 2016 in Gaza city (AFP) 

Sheren Khalel-Tuesday 2 February 2016

DURA, Occupied Palestinian Territories - When Fayha Salash talks of the man her husband is, she speaks with a smile - even if the circumstances are dire. Her husband, Mohammed al-Qiq, has been on hunger strike for 70 days and counting. His lawyers describe him as close to death with Robert Piper, a top UN official in the region on Tuesday saying he was “alarmed by [al-Qiq’s] rapidly deteriorating health”.

He has now lost the power of speech, with family now fearing for the worst.

“If I want any one thing to be clear, it is that my husband is not suicidal,” Salash said. “My husband loves life, he loves me and his children and his job very much. He is a dedicated father and journalist and he is doing this for no other reason than for justice, not for death.”

Al-Qiq was arrested on 21 November at his home in Ramallah for alleged terrorist links and has been held without trial under Israel’s controversial administrative detention policy which allows prisoners to be held without charge or trial, indefinitely.

On 27 January, al-Qiq’s lawyer, Jawad Bulous, brought an appeal to Israel’s supreme court, which requested al-Qiq be released from administrative detention due to his health. The request was denied, and al-Qiq, a 33-year-old journalist originally from Dura, outside Hebron, has remained behind bars.

Following the ruling, the EU expressed its disapproval of al-Qiq’s internment without charge or trial. The statement said al-Qiq, like the more than 500 other Palestinians being held on administrative detention, “have the right to be informed about the charges underlying any detention, must be granted access to legal assistance, and be subject to a fair trial.”

The EU missions added that they were “especially concerned about the deteriorating health condition of the Palestinian journalist”.

Israeli authorities have told al-Qiq’s lawyer that the reporter for Saudi-owned TV channel Almajd is being held under administrative detention for “incitement” against Israel, as well as working with Hamas, a Palestinian political party which rules the Gaza Strip and is considered illegal under Israeli law. Israeli authorities have also said al-Qiq is a “threat to the security of the area,” according to Amnesty International, which has also spoken out against his detention.

Salash denied the claims. She said her husband takes his job as a journalist very seriously, and that he was instead detained because of his work with Almajd or Glory in Arabic.  

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