Al-Ahrar Palestinian Prisoner Support calls for the immediate release of Mohammad Al-Saadi from the clutches of the transnational imperialist prison system. From Turkey to the United States, Al-Saadi has faced cruel conditions of incarceration for alleged involvement in “terrorism”— an imperialist term Ahrar continues to staunchly reject in the backdrop of Al-Saadi’s criminalization.
We call on all activists, organizations, unions, movements, student groups, and people of conscience all around the world to condemn and act against this violent move to expand coordinated imperialist repression amongst reactionary powers.
Who is Political Prisoner Mohammad Al-Saadi?
Mohammad Al-Saadi is a 32-year-old Iranian-Iraqi currently facing federal “terrorism” charges in the U.S. for at least 18 different global incidents that he allegedly played a role in. One of the charges he faces is for involvement in the shooting of the U.S. Consulate building in Toronto— a consulate not only representing hundreds of years of genocidal occupation and colonial conquest, but also the infrastructure that continues to facilitate this globally.
On Monday, June 1st, Al-Saadi pleaded not guilty and ushered a brave statement of defiance in the court, saying, “I’m not guilty in a war situation. I’m a prisoner of war. I’m not a threat. Children and women are being killed by your rockets.”
Al-Saadi’s analysis is correct: we are in a time of war and he is a prisoner of war. What he is being accused of is simply bringing the war within the borders of the imperial core— what the likes of Elias Rodriguez allegedly did as well. Khaled Barakat of the Masar Badil writes that Rodriguez’ external operation,
“…was a natural and legitimate response to this brutal aggression and an echo of the voice of resistance that remains alive and deeply rooted in the conscience of free peoples… Rodriguez’s operation not only revealed the limits of liberal discourse; it also restored the value of direct action as a mobilizing and agitational tool, placing everyone before their responsibilities. The broad popular response to this operation, particularly among youth and within Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities, reveals that popular sentiment remains aligned with armed struggle and a revolutionary position on Palestine. The battle being waged by the Palestinian people is not confined to the West Bank and Gaza, but extends and expands globally within the framework of revolutionary struggle against imperialism, Zionism, and reactionary and fascist regimes.”
Al-Saadi’s framing of himself “not (being) guilty in a war situation” is ultimately a rejection of his criminalization by the Americans and their imperialist lapdogs, like Turkey. It is a rejection of settler-colonial law that is imposed upon him as a struggler for freedom.
When charges against Al-Saadi were initially announced, he thought he was being persecuted for his relationship with martyred Iranian General Qassem Soleimani— the architect of the Axis of Resistance. For him to have a relationship with martyr leader Soleimani demonstrates his committment to regional sovereignty and liberation from U.S.-led imperialism, to say the least. However, the U.S. claims that Al-Saadi is a commander of Kata’ib Hizballah, part of the reason for his criminalization.
Who is Kata’ib Hizballah?
Kata’ib Hizballah is a faction of the Popular Mobilization Forces (and within that they are, too, part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq). Kata’ib Hizballah is a militant Shia organization founded in the wake of the 2003 American invasion of Iraq, however, the Popular Mobilization Forces as a coalition emerged later in 2014 as a means to rid their lands from reactionary ISIS forces. Currently, Kata’ib Hizballah is considered a Foreign Terrorist Organization in the U.S., but it is not listed as a so-called “terrorist” entity in Canada.
Since the commencement of Al-Aqsa Flood Battle, the Popular Mobilization Forces have forcefully struck the Zionist entity and American occupier bases in Iraq. Bronx Anti-War explains the interconnectedness between the Popular Mobilization Forces and the rest of the Axis of Resistance, writing that it is,
“visible in joint strikes, shared logistical support, and mutual political solidarity— (and) demonstrates that any alliance formed against the Axis will fail. The PMF’s robust performance, reinforced by Iranian support and bolstered by Yemeni missile operations, confirms their central role in liberating their nation from occupation and imperialist designs.”
Just as Ahrar said in our condemnation of Global News’ reactionary pseudo-journalistic piece about the alleged “450 Canadians in Hamas”,
“Zionist media claims, whether or not they are true, must not deter us from our unwavering commitment and solidarity with the Resistance that are liberating their prisoners from Zionist dungeons and securing material advances in their national liberation project…Who these people are or where their political affiliations lie are secondary to (them) experiencing racist criminalization and surveillance no matter their support for or affiliation.”
Mohammad Al-Saadi deserves widespread and unconditional support for his role in struggling against imperialism, whatever that may have looked like— from having a relationship with martyr leader Soleimani to being yet another criminalized Iranian-Arab Muslim man to potentially even being a member of the Resistance to simply stating that the U.S. is committing war crimes against his people while in court— these are all experiences worthy of uplifting and sharing.
Turkish Participation in the Genocide Against Palestinians & the Global War on Terror
Mohammad Al-Saadi was initially captured and incarcerated in an underground Turkish prison for two weeks. Turkey, notable for their routine empty statements of support for Palestine while materially supporting the Zionist entity, then extradited Al-Saadi to the U.S..
This is no surprise given Turkey’s long history of reactionary pandering to imperialist interests. Turkey is a long-time NATO member, marking its allegiances with the U.S., Canada, and other Western imperialist powers very stark.
Despite being a state that claims to be in solidarity with the Palestinian people and has hundreds of thousands of people from across their country participating in Palestine solidarity demonstrations, the Turkish government has made clear their interests: Local police continue to repress protests and arrest activists and Turkish goods continue to reach the Zionist entity through third parties, despite their alleged severing of ties. Oil also continues to pass through Turkey to eventually reach the Zionist entity.
In a recent interview with Vocal Politics, Khaled Barakat explains that “Turkey (is) guilty as charged when it comes to these things. They don’t even now condemn Israeli violation of the so-called ceasefire.”
Asra in Exile
Mohammad Al-Saadi’s prison conditions are similar to that of other political prisoners, particularly of the Palestinian liberation movement but also of the Black liberation struggle and other movements. Al-Saadi has been in solitary confinement since his arrival in the U.S. a few weeks ago, for example.
There are currently almost 10,000 Palestinian prisoners in Zionist jails and dozens more prisoners of the Palestinian liberation struggle who are incarcerated in imperialist and reactionary prisons abroad. From the Mohammad Al-Saadi in the U.S. to Anan Yaeesh in Italy to the Brize Norton 6 in the U.K.— all of these prisoners, many of whom are Palestinian and Arab facing racist criminalization for participating in the struggle to liberate their homeland, are at the forefront of the movement against state repression.
We call on individuals and organizations to join Al-Ahrar Palestinian Prisoner Support and other organizations of the Masar Badil to organize for the liberation of Palestinian, Lebanese, and Arab prisoners in Zionist prisons, and all those who are incarcerated for their support of Palestine globally— from the U.S. to Brazil to the U.K. to Germany and beyond.
Mohammad Al-Saadi is part and parcel of this movement and international campaign— join us in calling for his liberation!
Freedom for Mohammad Al-Saadi!
Freedom for All Asra in Exile!
Long Live the Resistance!
