12.12.03

Help Fuad Moussa!

Fuad Moussa is a 27-year-old gay Palestinian man, who grew up in Ramallah and is now living with his Jewish partner Ezra in Israel. They met 8 years ago and have been working together and sharing an apartment in Jerusalem for the past 4 years.

As a Palestinian Gay man living in Israel Fuad subjected to a double threat: in Palestine he is persecuted for his homosexuality and is in danger of being murdered by his family; in Israel he is being persecuted for being a Palestinian with neither an Israeli citizenship nor a permit to stay inside Israel.

Since the break of the second Intifada in September 2000 tens of thousands of Palestinian laborers had their entry permits into Israel revoked, leaving them exposed to constant threat of being detained and expelled. The Israeli police have begun profiling Palestinians, and on numerous occasions apprehended Fuad, detained him and deported him to Ramallah. Members of his family have stated in unequivocal terms that if he were to return they would kill him due to his sexual preference. Although this is known to the police, they have refused to change their course of action, ignoring the imminent danger to Fuad's life. Each time Fuad was deported, Ezra would drive to the Occupied Palestinians Territories in order to bring him back.

In the past month the police have been determined to hunt Fuad down and to deport him to the west bank permanently. He has been detained 6 times within a period of 2 weeks. Finally, during the last arrest, the police brought him to court at night, and in a swift legal procedure, a judge ruled that he either be imprisoned or be deported immediately and permanently to Ramallah. As a result of an appeal that was submitted by Ezra the following morning, the court put Fuad under house arrest in their one-bedroom apartment for an indeterminate period.

Fuad is a gay Palestinian who has chosen to live in Israel with his Jewish partner. It is within the power of the State of Israel to protect him from a possible death sentence and to allow his Israeli partner to live in the relationship he has chosen. Fuad Moussa's life can be saved with some public pressure. With one quick signature, the Israeli Interior Minister Avraham Poraz can grant Fuad a Jerusalem residency card, which would allow him to legally remain in the city. Israel's President Moshe Katzav can also ensure that such a card be issued.

Please write immediately -- mentioning Fuad Moussa I.D. 851611707 -- to:
 

Interior Minister Avraham Poraz

email: sar@moin.gov.il, pniot@moin.gov.il, pniot@moin.gov.il  (send to all three)

or fax: +972-2-5666376

President Moshe Katzav

email: president@president.gov.il, public@president.gov.il (send to both)

fax: +972-2-5671314

Please make sure to send copies to fuadmoussa@hotmail.com by bccing the emails.