Bulgaria should reject Israeli extradition request
Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson and Seán Crowe TD have appealed to the Bulgarian Ministers of
Justice and Foreign Affairs to reject Israeli attempts to extradite Palestinian
political prisoner Omar Zayed Nayef.
Ms Anderson said,
“Omar Zayed Nayef was arrested by occupation forces in May 1986 and sentenced
to life imprisonment. After a 40 day hunger strike in 1990, he was transferred
to hospital in Bethlehem where he escaped in May, disappeared and left
Palestine.
“In 1994, he travelled to Bulgaria. Omar married a Bulgarian citizen and has
Bulgarian children; he runs a Palestinian grocery store and is well-known in
the Palestinian community of Sofia
“On Tuesday 15th December, the Israeli embassy sent a letter to the Bulgarian
Ministry of Justice demanding the extradition of Omar Zayed Nayef, labelling
him a 'fugitive from justice.'
“Omar’s home was raided on Thursday 17th December; he was not home but his son
was arrested and held for one day. The Bulgarian prosecuteor has been quoted in
Arabic media calling for his imprisonment and quick extradition to Tel Aviv.
“This is unacceptable and the persecution of Omar Zayed Nayef is a further
campaign to criminalize the Palestinian struggle for Statehood. It is a threat
to Palestinians fleein persecution and it is imperative that Bulgaria reject
Israeli demands to extradite Omar.
Sinn Féin Deputy Seán Crowe TD, spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, added,
"I too add my personal appeal to the Bulgarian authorities not to
extradite Omar Zayed Nayef to Israel.
"Omar is a former political prisoner and hunger striker, who should
not be sent to Israel where he cannot receive a fair trial. Although he escaped
from detention in 1990, as he met the criteria for release under the Oslo Peace
Agreement he would have been freed in 1993 .
"Omar Zayed Nayef has been openingly living in Bulgaria for 22 years and
has made a new life there. The Bulgarian authorities should resist Israeli pressure
to turn the clock back and their latest attempt to criminalise and deport
him."
ENDS