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(s) | Adam Shapiro |
Huwaida Arraf (born 1976 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American 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.
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Family and education[edit]
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, to be able to raise her where she would not be treated as a second-class citizen. She and her parents visited her family in Palestine every year until Arraf was ten years old.[1]
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.[2] 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.
As a law student Arraf conducted research for the Public International Law and Policy Group, which provides pro bono legal assistance to governments involved in conflicts. Arraf also worked with the International Human Rights Law Clinic at the Washington College of Law, where she represented clients before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on issues ranging from indigenous lands rights to cross-border abductions and irregular rendition.[3]
Professional activities[edit]
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]
Arraf married Adam Shapiro, another ISM co-founder, in 2002. They met while both were working at the Jerusalem center of Seeds of Peace.[5]
Involvement with the International Solidarity Movement[edit]
Arraf co-founded the ISM in 2001, while living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. She founded the ISM with members of two Palestinian foundations with strong international ties, the Holy Land Trust and the Rapprochement Centre. At the ISM, she has participated in the training of thousands of volunteers from around the world in non-violence and in human-rights monitoring and reporting.
The ISM brands its method as “nonviolent direct action”: the members of the group join in solidarity with Palestinian nonviolent protesters in demonstrations, direct actions and other forms of creative protest.
Arrests[edit]
Arraf was arrested in 2002 for entering Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity when it was besieged by the Israeli Army. She and other ISM members were delivering food to those trapped inside, including civilians and priests from the Church. After a hunger strike in prison, Arraf arranged to leave Israel.
Arraf was deported from Bahrain in February 2012 while monitoring anti-government protests.
Gaza Freedom Flotilla[edit]
Arraf was the chair of the Free Gaza Movement,[6] 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[2] as well as the 2010 flotilla that was raided by Israeli commandos on May 31.[7] Using a satellite phone on board, Arraf stated that their plan was to have the boats keep heading toward Gaza “until they either disable our boats or jump on board.”[7]
At the time of the raid, Arraf was aboard the Challenger 1,[7] one of the smallest ships (30 feet) of the flotilla. On Thursday, 3 June 2010, she reported the events on Challenger 1 in an interview on Democracy Now.[8]
Arraf resigned from this position in 2012.
References[edit]
- ^ "http://www.radioproject.org/archive/2006/5106.html Women Rising X: International Changemakers - Human Rights Advocates]". National Radio Project: Making Contact. Season 9. Episode 51. 2006-12-20. Direct link to audio file
- ^ a b Huwaida Arraf, Biography at Global Exchange.
- ^ "Al-Quds University - Staff". Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Huwaida Arraf biography at American Friends Service Committee.
- ^ Blincoe, Nicholas (31 May 2003). "A Love Under Fire". The Guardian (UK). 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 c Kershner, Isabel (30 May 2010). "Israel Intercepts Gaza Flotilla; Violence Reported". New York Times (Jerusalem: New York Times). Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez (3 June 2010). "Flotilla Passengers Huwaida Arraf of Free Gaza Movement and Retired Army Col. Ann Wright Respond to Israeli Claims on Deadly Assault". Democracy Now!. 9:57 minutes in. http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/3/huwaida.
