Stop the Harassment of Iyad Burnat!

On Thursday November 1, 2012 Iyad Burnat, a leader of the Popular Resistance Movement in Bi'lin, Palestine, was detained by the Jordanian border officials and then refused entry into Jordan in order to travel to the United States.  He is currently back in Bil’in awaiting the resolution of this matter so that he can continue on his journey.

As you may recall, the Village of Bil’in is a co-plaintiff in our lawsuit here against the state of Minnesota for illegally and immorally investing in Israel Bonds. Iyad is scheduled to speak throughout our state December 5-9. We are also planning a meeting between Iyad and other co-plaintiffs and attorneys working on the lawsuit as Bil’in’s representative, in addition to a possible meeting with state legislators. MN Break the Bonds is just one of many community organizations in the U.S. sponsoring Iyad's speaking tour throughout the country. In fact, he was scheduled to speak today at the National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) conference being held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. 

WE NEED TO DEMAND THAT THE JORDANIAN GOVERNMENT STOPS DOING ISRAEL'S DIRTY WORK AND IMMEDIATELY GRANTS IYAD ACCESS TO THEIR AIRPORT TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S.! 

WHAT YOU CAN DO: 

CALL AND E-MAIL THE JORDANIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON D.C. Simply copy and paste the letter below (and attached) to hkjembassydc@jordanembassyus.organd call (202) 966 - 2664. The Ambassador's extension is 411. Sample script here: http://bit.ly/REneoO. The Embassy has been claiming that Iyad needs a special permission to enter Jordan, but this is entirely false. Iyad has traveled to Jordan freely a myriad of times, including as recently as February. If that is what you are told, please tell the person on the other line that you know this is false and restate your request. 

TWEET TWEET! A twitter campaign has begun using #LetIyadTravel.  If you have a twitter account please use it to tweet to the embassy @JoEmbassyUS. If you don't already, also follow us @MN_BBC for all things Minnesota + Palestine related. 

Thanks for taking action! Together we are making our voices heard.

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Sample Letter to the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

November 3, 2012

Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

3504 International Drive, NW

Washington, D.C. 20008

hkjembassydc@jordanembassyus.org

I am writing to request that the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Honorable Nasser Judah, intercede to permit Mr. Iyad Burnat of Bil’in, Palestine to travel to Amman Airport for travel to the United States. I understand that Mr. Burnat has been cleared for travel by the Israeli authorities and has received the appropriate visa from the United States Government. Mr. Burnat was refused entry by Jordanian border officials on the pretense that he lacked the appropriate Jordanian entry visa, although as recently as February Mr. Burnat was permitted entry into Jordan without the necessity of such a document. I understand that such a document is not and should not be a prerequisite for transit between the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Amman Airport.

I am a member of the Minnesota Break the Bonds Campaign, one of many community organizations in the United States sponsoring Mr. Burnat’s speaking tour before numerous audiences in several States. These audiences include, church groups, students, non-violent peace activists and community organizers. Our group, Minnesota Break the Bonds Campaign, is working through the Minnesota Courts and Legislature to obtain divestment of nearly $30 million in Minnesota state funds from Israeli sovereign bonds which are used to finance unlawful settlement activities in the West Bank, in addition to other activities that violate international law. The Village of Bil’in is a co-plaintiff in a civil lawsuit here in Minnesota which seeks a court order directing such divestment. One purpose of Mr. Iyad’s trip to Minnesota is to meet with fellow co-plaintiffs and attorneys working on the lawsuit as Bil’in’s representative, in addition to a possible meeting with state legislators. The lawsuit documents can be reviewed on our website at www.mn.breakthebonds.org. In every respect, our lawsuit comports with the policies of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in demanding Israel’s compliance with international law including applicable provisions of the Geneva Convention.

Your intercession to ensure safe and expeditious entry into Jordan and passage for Mr. Burnat through the Amman Airport for his travel to the United States would be most gratefully appreciated.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME