Bassem has been detained by the Israeli authorities over a dozen times, at one point spending three years in administrative detention withouttrial. In 1993, as a result of interrogation by the Israeli Shin Bet, Bassem was left unconscious for eight days and partially paralyzed for months tofollow.
Bassem has been described by the European Union as a “human rights defender” and Amnesty International has demanded his release as a “prisoner ofconscience.” At his talk Woodstock, Bassem spoke about his village’s work for freedom and justice and the struggles endured by his family and others who have been injured and/or imprisoned.
About 18 people attended the event that was organized by Tarak and Ellen.
