An evening with Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak

Recent hunger striker on tour to support Kick Israeli Racism out of UEFA

Mahmoud Sarsak is a 26 year old soccer player who was a member of the Palestinian national team before being imprisoned by the Israeli authorities in 2009 without charge. He was only released in July 2012 after he went on a hunger strike which lasted 3 months. He will talk about his experiences and in particular the time of his illegal detention by the Israeli authorities.

Mahmoud Sarsak commented “Sport is about tolerance, about humanity. Sport means love and peace. That is the message. Like all peoples of the world, we in Palestine, we want to play sports, especially football. Israel is a country of discrimination and apartheid. It does not stop at the destruction of homes and trees, but it also wants to break human beings, including athletes.”

After nearly three years of detention without charge or trial, and as part of a growing movement among Palestinian political prisoners, Mahmoud launched a hunger strike on 19 March 2012 in protest against the latest extension of his detention. He was then held in solitary confinement at Eshel prison until his transfer to Ramleh prison medical center on 16 April as a result of his deteriorating health.

He was finally released to Gaza after 90 days on hunger strike. Mahmoud is currently on a speaking tour of the UK and lending his support to Kick Israeli Racism out of UEFA 's campaign against the UEFA U21 finals being held in Israel that was marked by a protest outside Grosvenor House on May 24th.

June 10, 2013

Thursday June 20th at 7.30pm

Richmond Green United Reform Church, Quadrant Rd.,

TW9 1DH

(Nearest Underground: District/North London Line Richmond )

Admission Free – (donations gratefully accepted) - Doors open 7pm

Presented by Richmond & Kingston & West London branches of PSC (Palestine Solidarity Campaign)

www.palestinecampaign.org

Admission Free