(Aberdeenshire East)
(SNP): As we have today’s debate in the
Scottish Parliament, 29-year-old Abbad Yahya is stranded in Doha in
Qatar and is unable to return home to Palestine. Abbad is a fiction
writer and it was ordered that all copies of his novel, “Crime in
Ramallah”, be confiscated, because of what was deemed to be
offensive language. He has been the victim of a hate campaign on
social media, he has suffered death threats and copies of his novel
were reportedly burned on the Gaza strip.
“Crime in Ramallah” tells the story of
three Palestinian men who work in a bar where the murder of a
young woman takes place. It charts how the murder affects each
man’s life and explores the themes of politics, religion and
homosexuality through its protagonists. The language that is used
to explore those important themes has been used against him in
order to silence him and remove his rights.
Abbad Yahya received a summons from
the Attorney General, as did the book’s publisher and
distributor, Fuad al-Akleek, who was reportedly arrested and held
for six hours. Abbad’s right to freedom of speech has been taken
and he is left fearing for his life.
The chair of PEN International’s
writers in prison committee, Salil Tripathi, said:
“It is appalling that Abbad Yahya cannot
return home because he fears he may be arrested over a novel he
has written. The response to his novel is not only
disproportionate; it is entirely out of place. Abbad Yahya’s
novel may have challenged political and religious orthodoxy, but
he has the right to express his thoughts. The Palestinian
Authority should take immediate steps to overturn the ban and
ensure that he will be able to return home safely and protected
from any threats.”
Abbad Yahya should be able to return
home without fear of prosecution and danger. His book should be
allowed to be read once more and the charges against him should
be dropped...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
