Huwaida Arraf
| Huwaida Arraf | |
|---|---|
 Arraf in 2009 |
|
| Born | 1976 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Palestinian |
| Citizenship | American |
| Education | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor American University |
| Occupation | lawyer, activist |
| Spouse | Adam Shapiro |
Huwaida Arraf (born 1976) is a Palestinian Christian human rights activist, lawyer and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a Palestinian-led organization focused on assisting the Palestinian side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict using non-violent protests. Her law practice is based in Ramallah.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Family and education
Arraf, who is Christian, is the daughter of a Palestinian mother and father. Under Israeli law, she has Israeli citizenship through her father, an Israeli-Arab. Her parents moved from the West Bank to Detroit, Michigan, Arraf's birthplace, be able to raise her away from the violence in the West Bank. She and her parents were able to visit Israel every few years until Arraf was ten years old.[2]
Arraf majored in Arabic and Judaic studies and political science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She spent a year at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and studied Hebrew on a kibbutz.[3] Arraf later earned a J.D. at American University's Washington College of Law. Her focus was on International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, with a particular interest in war crimes prosecution.
In the spring of 2000, Arraf traveled to Jerusalem to serve as program coordinator for Seeds of Peace, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that seeks to foster dialogue between Jewish and Palestinian youth.[4]
In 2001 her title at the Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem was Regional Coordinator.[5] Arraf married Adam Shapiro, another ISM co-founder, in 2002. They met while both were working at the Jerusalem center of Seeds of Peace.[6]
[edit] Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Arraf chairs the Free Gaza Movement,[7] the organization behind the Gaza Freedom Flotillas - a series of groups of ships carrying Pro-Palestinian activists that were organized to break Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. She was aboard the 2008 Free Gaza boats[3] as well as the 2010 flotilla that was raided by Israeli commandos on May 31.[8]
At the time of the raid, Arraf was aboard the Challenger 1,[8] one of the smallest ships (30 feet) of the flotilla. On Thursday, 3 June 2010, she provided her version of the events on Challenger 1 in an interview on Democracy Now.[9]
[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- ^ Arraf biodata
- ^ "http://www.radioproject.org/archive/2006/5106.html Women Rising X: International Changemakers - Human Rights Advocates]". National Radio Project: Making Contact. 2006-12-20. No. 51, season 9. Direct link to audio file
- ^ a b Huwaida Arraf, Biography at Global Exchange.
- ^ Huwaida Arraf biography at American Friends Service Committee.
- ^ The Olive Branch, Winter 2001 and The Olive Branch, Spring 2001
- ^ Blincoe, Nicholas (31 May 2003). "A Love Under Fire". The Guardian (UK). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/may/31/israelandthepalestinians.weekend7. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ^ Siegel, Robert (1 June 2010). "'Freedom Flotilla' Protesters Vowed Not To Use Violence, Organizer Tells NPR". NPR News. Direct link to audio file
- ^ a b Kershner, Isabel (30 May 2010). "Israel Intercepts Gaza Flotilla; Violence Reported". New York Times (Jerusalem: New York Times). http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/31/world/middleeast/31flotilla.html. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Flotilla Passengers Huwaida Arraf of Free Gaza Movement and Retired Army Col. Ann Wright Respond to Israeli Claims on Deadly Assault". hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. Democracy Now!. 3 June 2010. 9:57 minutes in.
  |
This biographical article about a United States activist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This Palestinian biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
