Hundreds on Friday gathered inside of Grand Central Terminal in New York, demanding the release of the 16 year old Palestinian activist Ahed al-Tamimi who was taken into custody by Israeli soldiers two week ago.
Protestors chanted and carried banners reading “Release Ahed Tamimi Now”, “US has to stop helping Israel” and “Palestinian prisoners needs to be released”.
In a press release handed out during the demonstration, Israel was accused of illegally detaining her and information was given about her family’s activism which includes them also being shot by Israeli soldiers in the past. The event ended without incident.
Ahed and her mother who was detained by Israeli forces during an overnight raid in the occupied West Bank two weeks ago, is well known for her bold activism for a free Palestine.
Videos and pictures of Ahed confronting and slapping Israeli soldiers have gone viral for weeks.
The teenager and her mother Nariman were ordered to be detained behind bars for an additional eight days by Ofer Court Monday, located near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
The statement said Ahed had been accused of five offenses, including “assaulting an Israeli soldier, assault and throwing rocks at security forces, and other felonies”.
Ahed is also accused of opposing the work of the army, participating in rebellious demonstrations and encouraging others to participate in these, and her mother Nariman is accused of involvement in the same events and encouraging participation in these activities from her Facebook account.
Tamimi, who’s detention was extended three times before she was brought to court, has received widespread media attention and a social media campaign #FreeAhed, has been launched in support of her case.
Last week, dozens British MPs expressed concern at Tamimi’s arrest and signed a motion calling for her release. The Grand Imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayeb, has also denounced her arrest and praised the teenager’s courage.