Israel Told to End 'Outrageous' Detention of US Student Held for Alleged Crime of Supporting BDS
November 11, 2019 | News | No Comments
Hundreds of academics, journalists, and human rights advocates are calling for the release of Lara Alqasem, an American student who has been detained at Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv for a week after being accused of promoting the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) movement led by Palestinians and supported by those who oppose the Israeli occupation, its apartheid policies, and its ongoing violation of international laws.
Alqasem has been detained by Israeli authorities since arriving in Israel last Tuesday to study human rights at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Her deportation was ordered despite the fact that she holds a student visa.
Her detention is now the longest ever in a BDS-related case, and has drawn condemnation from critics of the country that claims to embrace democratic ideals.
Jewish Voice for Peace joined the call for Alqasem’s release, and urged her supporters to also demand an end to Israel’s persecution of Palestinians.
Hebrew University has thrown its support behind the student, as have more than 100 academics and Jewish leaders, who signed a petition calling for her release.