Exchange to Change May 2017 20170524 EtC mei 2017-web | Page 7

INTERVIEW
activism is the retaliation of the state
through criminalization of activists,
human rights violations and violence.
There have been situations in the
past when my personal security was
at risk but I continue to fight because
I believe in social justice and social
transformation. On the upside,
being an activist provided me with
the critical lens to understand our
world today and why injustices and
inequality exist.
E2C: Could you tell us a bit more
about your own role in this protest
movement and why you decided to
engage in this?
I would say ‘social’ rather than
‘protest’ movement as we also
propose alternatives apart from
challenging, exposing and opposing.
As for my role, I see myself as
a facilitator-campaigner and
activist researcher who provides a
contribution to agrarian, social justice
and women’s movements in terms of
(i) creating linkages and providing a
space for various movements to come
together and discuss how to amplify
their voices in development policy
circles; (ii) providing urgent, timely
and grounded analyses and research.
I do not overestimate my role or
importance since much of the work or
activism I do, is done collectively.
E2C: Did your engagement in
this affect your personal and/or
7
professional life? If yes, how?
‘The personal is political’, as feminists
say. My activism cuts across both my
personal and professional life so in
many ways they overlap, interlink and
weave together. I try to walk the talk
and that means being consistent in
what I believe in and do: from the very
mundane things to the bigger battles
and struggles. What my activism has
also taught me is that there is nothing
normal or moral about systems of
oppression and repression. That you
can imagine a better world. You need
to build or be part of social movements
that you believe in.
Ruwa Altalhami | Palestinian State
E2C: Could you provide some
background with regards to the
reasons and origin of the activism
you protested in? I participated in a
street protest against the violations of
rights in East Jerusalem. The protest
took place in July 2014 during the
holy month of Ramadan after the
kidnap and murder of 16-year-old
Palestinian teenager Mohammad
Abu Khdeir. Three Israeli extremists
kidnapped him outside a mosque next
to his house. They forced him into
a car, beat him and burnt him alive.
Investigations revealed soot deposits
in his lungs.
E2C: Did it make any difference?
The purpose of the movement was
to protest against the violations of
the rights of Palestinians, express
anger and expose Israeli practices on
the local and international level. The
protest was stopped by the Israeli
forces, they fired tear gas towards
Palestinians who were protesting and
closed the streets with cement blocks.
The clashes continued for several
days.
E2C: Could you tell us a bit more
about your own role in this protest
movement and why you decided to
engage in this movement? I decided
to participate in
this movement to
support the
Palestinian case.
As a Palestinian
who lives in East
Jerusalem, I strive
consumer boycot
like any other to
defend the basic
rights of
Palestinians and
fight against any
violation that
takes place in the region; especially in
my home town. The teenager victim
was my neighbour and I felt the need
to expose Israeli violations against
children and Palestinian citizens,
which violate all international human
rights laws.
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E xchange to change M ay 2017