Zahraa Muhammad Abd Al-Kawazba

‘Yahya Sar Yafa’

When I finished my meeting with Sirin in Damon Prison in the upper Carmel Mountains, prisoner Zahraa Muhammad Abd (Abu Sarhan) Al-Kawazba (born 23 December 1987) from Khaleil Al-Luz/Bethlehem appeared. When she saw the name on my papers, she asked me: ‘How did you know Abu Sarhan?’ I mentioned her brother's name, Muaz, and she began to cry continuously.

The place is very bad, but they are strong because of their prayers.

I asked her to convey my regards and ask about her children, Karam, Zain and Farah, and she added: Laila, Sara, Wadi, Layan and Carmen. I replied, ‘I only know about three of them,’ and she answered, "Fadi's children... they are dearer to me than my own children. I miss them all. I hope they forgive me for what happened.

"I went to the hospital for a check-up, and it turned out that I was pregnant with a girl. The pregnancy was a little risky, I needed a biopsy of the baby, but I refused. I'm expecting to give birth any minute now, and I don't want a biopsy. It could cause a miscarriage." They took me to the hospital with integrated shackles (hands and feet together) and a dog in the bus. I was expecting Yahya... I came back from the examination and told the girls: ‘Yahya is gone.’

She told me about her cellmates in cell number 3 (Rama Balawi, Sally Sadaka, Yasmin Shaaban, Hanin Jaber, Fidaa Assaf) and the other female prisoners in the detention centre. The situation is unbearable.

She told me about her arrest: on 25 April 2025, at a flying checkpoint near Ma'ale Adumim, on the road from Jericho, I wasn't expecting it. They took me to Etzion, where I was subjected to a disgusting and humiliating search, interrogated, and then transferred to the Moshav (23 days). I had a seizure at night and fell. From there I was taken to Sharon for one night, which was ‘disgusting and very, very dirty,’ and then to Damun, where I was greeted with beatings. ‘My left eye and right leg, they took my jilbab by force, blood from my nose and face, I complained to them, “I'm not ready to give up my jilbab.”’

Say hello to all of Abu Wadi's family, my sisters, I love them very much, and to my family, my husband, and reassure them about Farah and Kinan, and Laila, say hello to her mother-in-law.

When we parted, I promised her I would start an international campaign to secure her release and Yafa's so she could give birth outside of prison.

My dear Zahra (and Yafa), I send you my warmest regards and wish freedom for you and all the women of Damoun.

Haifa, 12 June 2025