Muhammad Zaher Ibrahim, 16, has been detained for five months on accusations of rock-throwing and has reportedly developed scabies
The family of a 16-year-old dual American-Palestinian citizen is trying to secure his release from an Israeli prison where he has been held in detention for more than five months and where they say he has lost a significant amount of weight and developed a severe skin infection.
Muhammad Zaher Ibrahim was still 15 when he was arrested at his family’s home in the occupied West Bank village of Silwad in February. According to relatives, he was blindfolded and handcuffed before being taken to Megiddo prison in Israel, where he remains in pre-trial detention accused of throwing rocks – accusations his family denies.
Muhammad, the youngest of five, lives in the West Bank but his family splits their time between the village and Palm Bay, Florida. His father, Zaher Ibrahim, reached out to Republican congressman Mike Haridopolos from their home state of Florida in March, pleading for help after more than 45 days without contact with his son.
“The Megiddo Prison is notorious for brutality and suffering,” Zaher Ibrahim wrote in a form he sent to Haridopolos that has been viewed by the Guardian. “We are kindly asking for some support in this matter. We have exhausted all efforts locally here in Israel and have no other option than to ask our local Florida office officials to reach out on our behalf.”
