FRIENDS OF PALESTINIAN DETAINEES PROJECT

Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) is launching their pilot initiative called “Friends of Palestinian Detainees”. 12 congregations are in the process of being paired up with 12 detainees for a year. The invitation is to have human contact at an international level, new relationships with the outside world, emotional and spiritual support from international people of faith and congregations, and an opportunity to have their stories and struggles heard and treated with dignity through interpersonal care and support.

FOSNA promotes the vision of Sabeel Jerusalem, an ecumenical liberation theology movement founded by Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land, joining Friends of Sabeel chapters around the world. FOSNA amplifies the voice of Palestinians by advocating in churches, communities, and governments for justice, peace, and liberation in Palestine.

Friends of Palestinian Detainees is partially inspired by Matthew 25:35-40. 

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

In this context, a detainee is someone who is held in administrative detention. Administrative detention is a procedure that allows Israeli soldiers to hold prisoners indefinitely on secret information without charging them or allowing them to stand trial. The secret information or evidence cannot be accessed by the detainee nor their lawyer. The court issues an administrative detention order for a maximum period of six months but can be renewed for an unlimited time. 


Oak Life Church is a friend of Layan

Oak Life Church has been paired up with Layan. You can watch her tell her story here. 

Layan Nasir is a Palestinian Christian from the West Bank. She was first arrested and held on administrative detention in 2021 for handing out sandwiches to students participating in a student action on campus. She was released in December 2023 but continues to have a charge pending in the courts for the first “offense”. 

Layan was violently arrested from her home by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) with guns pointed at her parent’s heads a second time in April 2024. She was held at Damon Women’s prison in which she and other prisoners including children, were beaten, and subjected to inhumane conditions; food, hygiene, fresh air, showers and bedding withheld. 

Because of international intervention of several dignitaries and organizations, Layan was released from administrative detention in December 2024. 

Layan is a recent graduate of Birzeit University with a Bachelor’s in Nutrition and Business Administration. Her family were founding members of Birzeit University. 

Layan’s desire for this project is to shed light on the severe apartheid system that exists for Palesintians and the dire conditions of the internationally illegal use of the Israeli prison system. She does not want the focus to be on her but for the collective of her fellow Palestinians.

 

UPDATES:

September 23, 2025
Take action on the Alameda Divestment advocacy:

Dear I4C Community - 

Several of us were present two weeks ago when the Alameda County Board of Supervisors FINALLY AGENDIZED the proposed Ethical Investment Policy!  This is good news!  At I4C, we are committed to divesting from death and investing in life.  As such, we invite your full support to get the EIP across the finish line.  

How can you participate and engage?  We share this simple call to action from our friends at Bay Area Divest (BAD):

1. Please immediately email your supervisor and President Haubert urging them to support the passage of the proposed Ethical Investment Policy at the October 3rd meeting. You can use this tool to look up your district. Let your supervisor know you're a member of their district and why you personally support a comprehensive ethical investment policy that's centered on human rights!  You can write a letter every day!  This is not a one time action!  Please cc BayAreaDivest@gmail.com to track community support. Please find here interfaith templates for your email.

2. Attend the special meeting at 10AM on Friday, October 3rd at 1221 Oak Street in Oakland. Bring your kuffiyehs, signs, family, and friends to demonstrate to our supervisors the amount of support and spirit within this movement. For those unable to attend in person, you can join via Zoom.  Showing up is key! [Please let us know if you plan to come!  We'll gather as an I4C contingent!]

3. Spread the word and build the movement - let folks know what's going on, and invite them to join us on October 3rd!

Take action:  Sign the petition for the Oakland Peoples Arms Embargo

Oakland Stands Against Genocide: No Killer Cargo Out of OAK Now!

actionnetwork.org

Take action:  Tell Governor Gavin Newsom to veto AB715 Free Speech for all and equal protection against any kind of othering for our education system

Call or write

https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/


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September 2025
Message from Lulu, Layan’s mother received Sunday September 7th, regarding Layan’s conviction.

"Hi everyone thank you for your prayers this is the update on her case The actual imprisonment sentence was finalized in court today, and the Israeli military prosecution rejected any other alternatives. Now we just have to wait for the date of executing the sentence .”

Unfortunately, this is not unexpected given the conviction rate in the Israeli military court is 99.74%.  

Another one of our partner churches in the Friends of Detainee project, Trinity UCC in Concord North Carolina is paired with 16 year old Mohamed Ibrahim, and US citizen from Palm Bay Florida.  Please check the link to read his  story. https://ajpaction.org/force-israel-to-release-mohammed-ibrahim-immediately/

To take action on behalf of Mohamed, please scroll down to the action items section of our page.  

ACTION ITEMS: 

1.  Pray for Layan as she and her family await sentencing after her conviction in a military tribunal.   Pray for her strength and health and for mercy by the Israeli Military Court system.  May justice find its way to Layan, granting her freedom.

2.  Pray to our just and merciful God to open the eyes of the world.  Particularly to our leaders in the United States.  Bring a change of heart. Enable us to find a way to end the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and to      the apartheid regime in Israel and the occupied lands.

3.  Write to our Representatives in Congress and the Senate. (see attachments below for contact information).

Ask them to acknowledge that Israel is not a democracy if it allows due process to only Jewish citizens.  Let them know that Christians, and Jewish dissenters are also persecuted and subject to administrative detentions and  violence. 

Encourage them to make a moral decision to stop arming Israel, call for an immediate cease fire and change our foreign policy to one that would reflect the value and human rights of all the people of the Holy Land.  To work  toward an enduring peace and autonomy through diplomacy, not war.  To our congressional representatives ask them to vote for HR3565 “Stop the Bombs Act."

Plead for Layan and the over 3300 other detainees held in Israeli prisons, including women and children, that they be given due process of legal representation, humane prison conditions and visits by their family members,  and ultimately their release.


Join Letter Free Mohammed Ibrahim(click)
Talking Points Mohammed Ibrahim (click)

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES:

Browse the Resource Bank to educate yourself and others regarding the history of Colonialism, the Zionist Movement and oppressive systems  that exist for Palestinians living in Gaza, The West Bank and Jerusalem.



MORE RESOURCES (CLICK HERE)


NEWS:
  https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250818-report-israel-used-police-dogs-to-attack-palestinian-female-detainees/
Israeli parliament approves symbolic motion on West Bank annexation