Father of teenage Jordanian imprisoned in Israel begins hunger strike

AMMAN — Mahdi Suleiman, father of the youngest Jordanian prisoner in Israel, on Sunday started an open-ended hunger strike in front of the Foreign Ministry, in protest against its "failure" to arrange for him to visit his son Mohammad.

"The ministry took my passport around 10 days ago, when I threatened to go on hunger strike, to start the procedures for my visit to Mohammad," he told The Jordan Times, adding that the ministry did not succeed in arranging the visit.

Mahdi started his hunger strike, during which he will stop taking medication as well, at 10am and said he is determined to continue with it until he sees his son, despite his already bad health condition.

"I take nine kinds of medicines for blood pressure, diabetes and brain strokes, among others," noted the father, who was admitted to hospital later on Sunday, adding that he would do anything to see his son.

No further details were immediately available on his health condition.

Blaming local institutions for their lack of solidarity with his son's case, Mahdi said many solidarity sit-ins have been held in around 11 European countries.

Mohammad faces 27 charges in Israel, two of which are attempted murder and injuring 18 Israeli soldiers.

The teenager was in the West Bank visiting his relatives at the time of his detention two years ago. He was 16 years old when he was arrested.

"Activists in Sweden, Britain, Spain and Germany arranged many events in favour of my son," the father said, citing "a huge gathering" of 10,000 people in Hamburg last year to express solidarity with Mohammad.

There were similar events in Lebanon, Tunisia and Morocco, while European members of parliament regularly organise rallies in front of the Israeli military court calling for the release of Mohammad, Mahdi said.

Officials at the Foreign Ministry were not available to comment on the issue, despite several attempts by The Jordan Times to reach them.