Rama Imad Abdullah Balawi

‘The whole story... Mama isn't here’

This morning, I visited Damon Prison in the upper Carmel Mountains to meet with prisoner Rama Imad Abdullah Balawi (born 26 June 1993), an English teacher at Al-Aqsa School (Shweika) from the village of Kafr al-Labad/Tulkarm.

Rama is pregnant (six months), married and has two daughters, Yafa and Lamar. She is concerned about her educational situation and their studies. Her eyes filled with tears when I told her that Yafa and Lamar had raised a banner on Prisoners' Day with her picture on it and the words ‘The whole story... Mummy's not here.’

She told me about her arrest: “On the night of 25 February 2025, at three in the morning, six male and female soldiers, handcuffs, blindfolds, insults, beatings, and they didn’t let me change my clothes.” She told me about her journey of torment and suffering until she arrived in Damun.

She told me about her cellmates in Cell No. 2 (Fidaa Assaf, Hanin Jaber and Zahraa Kawasba) and the other female prisoners in the detention centre. Two new prisoners had just arrived: Dr. Intisar Awauda (Hebron) and Asil Hammad (Beit Furik). She told me about the terrible conditions in Damon Prison, where the abuse is constant (yesterday they beat two prisoners), which is very difficult for her as she is pregnant. ‘They took me for an ultrasound at Rambam Hospital and the pregnancy is fine.’ She eats legumes ‘to help me and the foetus (Abboud), I have shortness of breath and pressure, and there is no treatment other than drinking water.’ Four months and the same weight despite the pregnancy.

The drinking water is salty, and the rooms are filled with chlorine.

She is worried about the pregnancy and the delivery, which is ‘expected in early September.’

She asked to send her regards to her parents, ‘Yamma, keep praying for me,’ her brothers and sisters and their children, her sister Tharaa, ‘I love you and think of you, take care of yourself and your daughter and my daughters, stay strong,’ and her sister Maram. Her father-in-law reassured them that the pregnancy was going well.

Finally, her husband Hossam and her daughters (bitter crying and wailing): ‘I love you so much, Abood sends his regards and misses you.’

She asked to convey her greetings to her family.

Eid Mubarak to all in my name.

When we parted, I promised her that I would start an international campaign to secure her release and that Aboud would be born outside of prison.

My dear Rama, I send you my warmest regards and wish freedom for you and all the women of Damoun.

Haifa, 9 June 2025