SLAFIT (PIC)– The 19 year old student at Najah National University Roba Mahmud Tlaib from the village of Kairi to the north of Slafit did not know what was waiting for her as she was returning home on 14 January 2007 from University through the Hawara checkpoint South of Nablus. It wasn’t like her everyday return journey from University. On that day after having her ID card checked she was surrounded by a large number of IOF soldiers who handcuffed her and left her for four hours under the pouring rain before taking her to the Hawara detention center.
Brutal Interrogation
The detention of Roba Tlaib was only the start of the long journey of suffering abuse humiliation and torture experienced by all Palestinian women captives whose number has reached 129 women in the Israeli occupation jails.
Tlaib family said that Roba was transferred from Hawara detention center hours after her detention to the Israeli occupation “Petah Tikva” interrogation center. She remained there for two weeks where she had to endure brutal interrogation and cruel torture which is typically meted to Palestinian detainees. Then she was transferred to ward 11 at the the “Talmond” Army Prison.
A family and a village that miss Roba
“May Allah bless you and hasten your release” Roba’s mother says with eyes filled with tears and perseverance. She speaks proudly of Roba’s strong and unique character how she has always shown a sense of self-dependence in her everyday life and has filled the house with happiness and joy due to her light-hearted spirit. With a heart full of pain Roba’s mother goes on to say that now the family is living in absolute despair after the detention of her daughter who is living along with the rest of the detainees under harsh circumstances at Talmond Prison. For the detained Palestinian women are denied the basics of a decent living as the result of a policy of humiliation that is systematically practiced in all Zionist prisons in general and at the Talmond Prison in specific.
The empty space that Roba left behind can be noticed not only at her home but in all the village houses. Her father says that everyone in the village misses his daughter. For she was a well known figure when it comes to charity work helping others and participating in the Palestinian Red Crescent activities including summer camping and voluntary activities that serves the village.
Hopes for Roba’s Release
The Occupation Military Court has extended the detention of Roba twice since she was detained. Lately there has been a lot of talk on the possibility of exchange of prisoners tied with the release of the Israeli soldier “Gilad Shalit” who was captured by the Palestinian Resistance last year. Her family pray that Roba and all the detained women will be included in such negotiations.
