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How a 16 year-old Palestinian girl became a worldwide icon
07 January 2018

 

Nisaa FM: - A Palestinian youth, 16 year-old Ahed Tamimi, has made it to the news around the world. Why? She has by an Israeli military court indicted on five counts of assault for attacking two soldiers on December 15, thus extending her detention as well as that of her mother, Nariman Tamimi, for eight additional days. A hearing is scheduled for January 9.

Ahed Tamimi was arrested on December 19 over a video in which she is seen slapping and kicking Israeli soldiers in front of her family home. Since the arrest, she has received considerable attention and support. An online campaign is demanding Ahed’s release, while the hashtag #AhedTamimi has trended all over social media, in particular on Twitter with tens of thousands of tweets.

 

Ahed’s protesting began in 2009

The protesters in the village of Nabi Saleh northwest of Ramallah began in 2009 against the Israeli separation wall and the confiscation of land in order to build a settlement. From when she was only 8 years old Ahed participated in the weekly march in the village, showing no fear of the occupation forces.

Ahed's relative Atallah Tamimi, a member of Nabi Saleh’s anti-settlement committee, told, “Ahed witnessed many events that significantly affected her.”

He added, “We, the committee, would first encourage children, including Ahed, to confront the occupation, and we would then bring psychologists to schools to educate the children against the occupation and urge them not to be afraid when they hear shooting and night raids. And we continue to do the same to this day.”

The Tamimi family has been involved in several incidences of violence. Her mother was arrested five times and shot in the thigh in November 2014, forcing her to use a cane. She lost her uncle Rushdi al-Tamimi, who was shot by Israeli soldiers on November 19 2012. Her father was arrested and detained nine times. In 1993, he was beaten during an interrogation, and the resulting concussion left him in a coma for 10 days. The Tamimi home has been threatened with demolition for having been built without a permit.

 

A national icon with media attention

Ahed made it to the media from an early age. In 2012 photographers captured Israeli soldiers arresting Ahed’s mother while others held Ahed back as she cried before escaping to run after the military vehicle that took her mother away. Later the same year Ahed was involved in another incident with soldiers in Nabi Saleh after they had arrested her brother, Waad. And again in August 2015 Ahed was, together with her mother, filmed fighting an Israeli soldier who had beaten and tried to arrest her other brother, Mohammed.

Her father Bassem al-Tamimi has told the media, “Our family and entire village have always resisted the occupation. That Ahed grew up in this environment and participated in our weekly marches against the wall and settlements has helped her become fearless.”

“We need to empower our children and show them that they should not be afraid to confront the occupation,” Bassem al-Tamimi said, adding, “Since there is no safe place in Palestine for us to send our children to, we need to teach them to be strong, get over their fear and resist.”

Ahed has long dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player, but she now wants to study law at Birzeit University, but her continued detention would prevent her from finishing high school.

Marah Tamimi, 16, Ahed’s cousin and best friend, told, “Ahed was not able to take the semi-annual exams, which means she will have to repeat the first semester.”

She continued “Years ago, Ahed’s dream was to become a professional soccer player, so we would jump at every chance to play soccer with the boys. But given the situation in our village, her dream turned to law to help people suffering under the occupation’s attacks.”

And now she has become an icon for activism not only to Palestinians, but to the entire world. There has been supporting protests in e.g. New York (Grand Central Terminal).
 

Source: www.al-monitor.com