Tunisian singer Latifa has announced that she is on a hunger strike “Empty Stomach” in protest to the appalling and inhuman prison conditions of Palestinian inmates inside Israeli prisons. The singer called on all singers and other representatives from the entertainment world to join her even if it was for only one day.
According to the London based daily, Al Sharq Al Awsat, Latifa stressed that she honored to join this campaign even if its just showing solidarity to the brave Palestinian soldiers. She added that the more people who join the campaign the more effect they will have on different international organizations.
Palestinians representing different Islamic and national factions and powers began an open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with thousands of hunger striking prisoners in Israeli jails since earlier this month. The group of hunger strikers has been mounting reaching thousands of people around the world.
Hundreds of Palestinians erected a tent near the monument of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza City's downtown to express solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners who are going on a hunger strike.
The striking prisoners are incarcerated in the Hadarim Detention Center in the Sharon region, Shatta Prison in the Beit She'an Valley, and two jails in the south of the country - Eshel Prison and Shikma Prison in Ashkelon.
The violence broke out when wardens tried to search a security prisoner's cell after finding a sketch of the prison in his possession, which led them to believe that he was planning an escape. Palestinian officials in contact with the prisoners said the riot was related to prison conditions and had no connection with Palestinian demands for Israel to free prisoners as part of U.S.-led peace efforts.
But the riot came a day after Palestinian Minister for Prisoners Hisham Abd al-Raziq warned that Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails could riot if they were not released as part of peace moves. Al-Raziq also said ordinary Palestinians could revolt if Israel does not free thousands of prisoners, a gesture that Palestinians consider vital to pushing ahead with the road map.
Latifa revealed that she refuses to waste her time watching satellite music channels and prefers to watch the Middle Eastern news channel Al Jazeera. The singer stressed that she is concerned in what is happening in Palestine and Iraq and what is the entire Arab nation is going through. What the musical channels are offering now is a true reflection to the deteriorating situation the Arab region is going through. Latifa said that she likes Lebanese singer Haifa because she does not talk about anyone and works very hard to prove herself, regardless of the fact if she has the true talent to be a singer or not. About filming a documentary about her life Latifa revealed that her fan club on the internet suggested the idea, which one of the satellite channels liked, but added she would not go through it because she prefers to keep her personal life away from the scenes and does not wish to share it with anyone. -Albawaba.com
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
