Thanks and a Pledge

by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem

I extend my thanks and gratitude to all the brothers and sisters who stood with me during my most recent arrest, which took place under the guise of civil charges on 20 April 2009. I extend my thanks to all the Arab brothers and sisters — writers, thinkers, academics, bloggers, lawyers and legal professionals, human rights associations, heads of non-governmental organizations, media figures, and television, radio, and press networks. And I thank everyone who stood by my family, openly and quietly, and did what they could to make this case a public one.

To those who opposed my arrest, or who supported it, I want to say that political disagreement must not blind us to general principles and higher standards, the absence of which is a genuine tragedy that falls on everyone’s head. If we grow lax about freedom of expression, we are certainly leading ourselves toward grudges that yield nothing but further troubles.

[…] and treason, in every one of my television interviews. I might accuse, or criticize, a head of state in his presidential capacity, but I do not, as a rule, name ordinary people. I note here that I, and my property, have been subjected to many attacks, and that I have always filed complaints, but those who carried out the attacks were never touched by any harm, nor was any of them ever questioned.

And finally I say: these lands are our lands, this country is our country, and Palestine is ours, and we shall remain faithful to our religion, our values, our history, our heritage, and our forefathers. My grandfather died and now lies wrapped in the soil of Palestine, my father’s grave is planted in this holy ground, this earth embraces the remains of my mother Fatima, and my own bones, God willing, will decay nowhere but within this land.

Source: Translated from the original Arabic, “شكر وعهد” by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem.