Young girl, Ahed Tamimi, Spends 17th Birthday in Israeli Jail

Imagine spending your 17th birthday awaiting trial in an Israeli military court where 99.74% of those tried are convicted. This is the case with Ahed Tamimi who celebrates her 17th birthday today from an Israeli prison for protesting Israeli expansion near her village. 

Ahed Tamimi is an extremely brave young girl who has been thrown into an Israeli jail because she stood up to Israeli soldiers. On 19th December 2017 she was arrested after throwing stones at the soldiers during a protest against Trump’s decision to name Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

The Israeli authorities' claim that their actions were a necessary response to violent protest from the Palestinians seems overly exaggerated as during the same protest they shot Ahed's 14-year-old cousin in the face. How on earth is this a proportionate response when soldiers shoot a 14 year old child and imprison a 16 year old? 

This brutal treatment of children is not an isolated incident of Israeli authorities' actions towards children. Since 2000 over 8000 Palestinian children have been imprisoned in the same military detention system as Ahed. This system, according to 'defense for children international', is "notorious for the systematic ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children."

According to Ahed's mother; "When I saw her in court she was pale and shivering, shackled and clearly in pain. I wanted to cry but I couldn’t, I have to stay strong so she stays strong"

Regardless of your stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the imprisonment of children without a fair trial and without the possibility of bail in a system where they face violence is undeniably cruel. Ahed Tamimi bravely stood up for her social and political convictions. It is time that those in the West who frequently boast and insist on freedom of speech actually extend these ideas for more than their own political gain.

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