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The Prisoners’ Diaries #2
Dreaming of Freedom: Palestinian Child Prisoners Speak
By placing Israel's military detention of Palestinian children in its full context - not only the Israel occupation itself, but also Palestinian resistance to it - Dreaming of Freedom offers valuable insight into the lives of children whose forays against heavily-armed soldiers, walls and tanks have inspired millions.
- GenresNonfiction
174 pages, Paperback
Published August 21, 2019
8 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 20, 2024
I have to stop reading this a few times.
This book contains trigger warnings and made me cry so badly that I can't bear to read about The Hares Boy.
Ya Allah, I can't imagine a child that has to live a life under genocide. By only walking to school, they can be kidnapped and arrested without a solid reason.
Even worse, Zionist Laknatullah made up a reason to interrogate you and sentence you to jail. You spend the rest of your life in prison.
Why are we living this way? Why is this seen so normal? I wish one day Allah let me see with my own eyes Israel's downfall.
Do you think God will forget? Do you think He did not know?
This book will remain in my heart, with all the stories that have been shared and written, and will be passed from one generation to another forever.
And these 177 pages were never enough to tell us, the world, about the pain our Palestinian families have felt, never enough because of the pain they have endured for 75 years.
This book contains trigger warnings and made me cry so badly that I can't bear to read about The Hares Boy.
Ya Allah, I can't imagine a child that has to live a life under genocide. By only walking to school, they can be kidnapped and arrested without a solid reason.
Even worse, Zionist Laknatullah made up a reason to interrogate you and sentence you to jail. You spend the rest of your life in prison.
Why are we living this way? Why is this seen so normal? I wish one day Allah let me see with my own eyes Israel's downfall.
Do you think God will forget? Do you think He did not know?
This book will remain in my heart, with all the stories that have been shared and written, and will be passed from one generation to another forever.
And these 177 pages were never enough to tell us, the world, about the pain our Palestinian families have felt, never enough because of the pain they have endured for 75 years.
July 23, 2018
not gonna say that i didnt care about whats happening over there in palestine, but this book is truly an eye opener for me. the struggle that these kids need to go through every single day is inhumane, heartbreaking. the israeli occupation and the violence involved is driven by their desire to destroy the future generation of palestine, god knows how it scarred their life. its like holocaust all over again, and this genocide is being ignored by the whole world, CRAZY! i sincerely hope that more people will read this book, and help the cause
May 13, 2021
24 first-hand accounts from Palestinian children (mostly aged 11-16) sharing about their experiences of being arrested (almost every single child described their houses being violently invaded in the middle of the night), detained, imprisoned, humiliated, and tortured by Israeli forces. It's heartbreaking to read dozens of these accounts of trauma and abuse. The accounts are all fairly short, I would love have loved to learn even more about the lives and families and experiences of these children.
December 6, 2024
And this happens to such young kids.
But the minute we try be a little more balanced and point out some of these truths and that we do not believe that the Biblical God promised all the land to Israel, the very moment we say we believe in a two-state solution and dare try talk about this book, the Zionists and Israeli far-right use the antisemitic slur against us and try equating us with the worst kind of people.
Thank you for Good Israel, the moderate and brave Jews on the left and in the centre.
Rabin, one of the wisest statesmen, did not die in vain.
Hopefully one day we will eventually see a just and wonderful peace, but that will meaning dealing with the extremists on Both Sides.
But the minute we try be a little more balanced and point out some of these truths and that we do not believe that the Biblical God promised all the land to Israel, the very moment we say we believe in a two-state solution and dare try talk about this book, the Zionists and Israeli far-right use the antisemitic slur against us and try equating us with the worst kind of people.
Thank you for Good Israel, the moderate and brave Jews on the left and in the centre.
Rabin, one of the wisest statesmen, did not die in vain.
Hopefully one day we will eventually see a just and wonderful peace, but that will meaning dealing with the extremists on Both Sides.
July 17, 2025
“Every night whilst at home, I would taste a different sadness and every day, I would close my eyes for hours trying to draw a more beautiful picture of tomorrow.”
Free Palestine, always.
Free Palestine, always.
March 24, 2021
'Dreaming of Freedom : Palestinian Child Prisoners speak' is an anthology of interviews taken by Norma Hashmi , a Malaysian activist with the help of a journalist of West Bank Fayhaa Shalash in 2015 by Palestinian children of their military detention by Israeli occupation forces. The book was later translated in English from Arabic by Yousef M. Aljamal.
It is impossible for the words to encompass the pain and brutality Palestinian children go through everyday. They are robbed of their childhood and continue to suffer from mental and psychological torment that deprives them to live as a normal human being.
All twenty fours interviews are the witness of how young and innocent children are detained by Israel's army, their house bombarded and them being thrown into jails for months and year without even letting them or their family know of the crime they committed.
The Palestinian children express a shared feeling of humiliation that seems to be even more painful for them than the beatings and tortures received. While reading the book, it was hard to stop tears from falling and I wished it was fiction, because we can soothe our heart by knowing it was just a story but what about the harsh reality, how do we find escape from it?!
The description of life under detention is heart wrenching but the Israelis will go on with their cruelty insensitively. As Dr. Mahathir bin Mohammed (former prime minister of Malaysia) said, "one would have thought the people who had suffered under the Nazis would be more sensitive to the Nazi- like sufferings they cause to others. But it seems they are not."
I'm recommending this book to everyone but those who are too sensitive and soft heart, please read some reviews before reading the book so that you might get an idea. Let's raise voice against the violation of basic human rights and international laws. Let's remove the veil from our eyes and stand for our brothers and sisters. What Palestinians suffer, we can't even bear to imagine!
It is impossible for the words to encompass the pain and brutality Palestinian children go through everyday. They are robbed of their childhood and continue to suffer from mental and psychological torment that deprives them to live as a normal human being.
All twenty fours interviews are the witness of how young and innocent children are detained by Israel's army, their house bombarded and them being thrown into jails for months and year without even letting them or their family know of the crime they committed.
The Palestinian children express a shared feeling of humiliation that seems to be even more painful for them than the beatings and tortures received. While reading the book, it was hard to stop tears from falling and I wished it was fiction, because we can soothe our heart by knowing it was just a story but what about the harsh reality, how do we find escape from it?!
The description of life under detention is heart wrenching but the Israelis will go on with their cruelty insensitively. As Dr. Mahathir bin Mohammed (former prime minister of Malaysia) said, "one would have thought the people who had suffered under the Nazis would be more sensitive to the Nazi- like sufferings they cause to others. But it seems they are not."
I'm recommending this book to everyone but those who are too sensitive and soft heart, please read some reviews before reading the book so that you might get an idea. Let's raise voice against the violation of basic human rights and international laws. Let's remove the veil from our eyes and stand for our brothers and sisters. What Palestinians suffer, we can't even bear to imagine!
May 11, 2022
'"They all confessed against you, so it's better you do it yourself," he said. "They're all lying," I said and he dragged me to the window and said, "Do you see the sun? I'll make you rot in jail and you'll never see it again."
-Norma Hashim, Dreaming of Freedom
While Israeli soldiers continue their atrocities, here's a book I'd like to recommend.
You will find stories of young Palestinian children, being arrested. They're kicked, beaten and left with a trauma that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. These are children, deprived of their childhood. They're made to carry scars they do not deserve.
There's absolutely no regard to international human rights laws. The Appendix sets out the issues and the legal authorities however, it is evident that none of it is complied to, from the stories narrated by the children.
For example,
1. At the time of arrest, anyone arrested MUST be informed of the reason for arrest, according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Art. 40(2)(b)(ii) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Art. 9 (1)-(2).
2. According to CRC, Art. 37(c), children deprived of liberty SHALL be treated with humanity and respect... Restraint or force can only be used when there's an imminent threat of injury.
Mind you, these children carry no weapons with them, yet they are blindfolded, handcuffed, psychologically tortured and humiliated.
3. There is also a presumption in law, where a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This is also found in CRC Article 40(2)(b)(i) and ICCPR Article 14(2). Yet these are children are treated as though they are guilty, until proven innocent.
Based on common complaints and areas of concern between 2012 and 2015 will you believe it if I told you that there were 311 cases of denial of adequate food and water, 235 cases of denial of access to toilet and 10 cases of threat of sexual assault? These are only ' some' cases that I'm stating here.
Some of these children state that they prefer prison life over house arrest. It is saddening, to even think that they would prefer one form of horror over another.
I would recommend this book. Much needed content, as people must be informed of the atrocities happening in the world.
-Norma Hashim, Dreaming of Freedom
While Israeli soldiers continue their atrocities, here's a book I'd like to recommend.
You will find stories of young Palestinian children, being arrested. They're kicked, beaten and left with a trauma that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. These are children, deprived of their childhood. They're made to carry scars they do not deserve.
There's absolutely no regard to international human rights laws. The Appendix sets out the issues and the legal authorities however, it is evident that none of it is complied to, from the stories narrated by the children.
For example,
1. At the time of arrest, anyone arrested MUST be informed of the reason for arrest, according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Art. 40(2)(b)(ii) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Art. 9 (1)-(2).
2. According to CRC, Art. 37(c), children deprived of liberty SHALL be treated with humanity and respect... Restraint or force can only be used when there's an imminent threat of injury.
Mind you, these children carry no weapons with them, yet they are blindfolded, handcuffed, psychologically tortured and humiliated.
3. There is also a presumption in law, where a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This is also found in CRC Article 40(2)(b)(i) and ICCPR Article 14(2). Yet these are children are treated as though they are guilty, until proven innocent.
Based on common complaints and areas of concern between 2012 and 2015 will you believe it if I told you that there were 311 cases of denial of adequate food and water, 235 cases of denial of access to toilet and 10 cases of threat of sexual assault? These are only ' some' cases that I'm stating here.
Some of these children state that they prefer prison life over house arrest. It is saddening, to even think that they would prefer one form of horror over another.
I would recommend this book. Much needed content, as people must be informed of the atrocities happening in the world.
July 7, 2021
Occupation. Genocide. Antisemitism. Siege. What happened in Palestine was often named with luxurious terms, but sometimes what we all need to do is to look from the children's eyes. Because often, theirs show the truth.
'And by refusing to reduce them to mere objects of humanitarian concern, instead leaving their motivations intact for readers to consider, it portrays them authentically, as standard-bearers of a cause and political actors in their own rights.'
Different 24 stories from 24 children, but same format. Did what normal children would do, arrested, houses raided in the middle of night, interrogated, humiliated, beaten, harassed, tortured, prisoned, freed but scarred for life. Throughout the book, my throat burned and my chest heavy from digesting all their stories. I even questioned, are we living in the same world? Does Palestinians live in another world, where law and humanity mean nothing. If I'm not heartless, I think I would've cried a lot for each stories.
The medias often portrayed children of Palestinians as courageous (no doubt), but they are still children. They cried after hours of beating even when they refused to and begged for pity just so they get a second of relief from pain. That's normal. What's abnormal is the world that expect them to keep strong and fight for cause older than they are, just because they are Palestinians.
My first read, I was in a slump for hours because the heaviness their stories carried. Then it strike me, 'I can pause my read when it's too much, but what about them? They have no choice but to continue living in those nightmares.'
If you're not in a good place, this book can either lift you up through gratefulness or pulls you in slump. This book is indeed heavy and might not be for everyone but I believed it is necessary and insightful for everyone especially if you're having hard time to empathize with Palestinians (like me).
'And by refusing to reduce them to mere objects of humanitarian concern, instead leaving their motivations intact for readers to consider, it portrays them authentically, as standard-bearers of a cause and political actors in their own rights.'
Different 24 stories from 24 children, but same format. Did what normal children would do, arrested, houses raided in the middle of night, interrogated, humiliated, beaten, harassed, tortured, prisoned, freed but scarred for life. Throughout the book, my throat burned and my chest heavy from digesting all their stories. I even questioned, are we living in the same world? Does Palestinians live in another world, where law and humanity mean nothing. If I'm not heartless, I think I would've cried a lot for each stories.
The medias often portrayed children of Palestinians as courageous (no doubt), but they are still children. They cried after hours of beating even when they refused to and begged for pity just so they get a second of relief from pain. That's normal. What's abnormal is the world that expect them to keep strong and fight for cause older than they are, just because they are Palestinians.
My first read, I was in a slump for hours because the heaviness their stories carried. Then it strike me, 'I can pause my read when it's too much, but what about them? They have no choice but to continue living in those nightmares.'
If you're not in a good place, this book can either lift you up through gratefulness or pulls you in slump. This book is indeed heavy and might not be for everyone but I believed it is necessary and insightful for everyone especially if you're having hard time to empathize with Palestinians (like me).
April 9, 2020
In one word this book is unputdownable. But at the same time you can't read it at once because those 24 first-hand interviews of the teenage kids are so so devastating and mind-boggling.
Those interviews were taken in 2015 by Norma Hashmi, a Malaysian activist, with help of a journalist of West Bank, Faysha Shalash. Normi took one year to do research on those interviews and Yousef M Aljamal translated the book from Arabic to English. Apart from the the interviews this book includes stories of five teenagers who were sentenced to imprisonment for 15 years, on charges of throwing stones, however, there is no evidence to prove such convictions!!! 😡🙁
As a reader I was so depressed when reading about those kids words on arrests, tortures,killings, injuries, detention and daily humiliation by the settlers or occupational forces of Israel. Palestinian children in detention centers and prison cells sometimes refuse to get food and water. They are not even allowed to use the toilet. They also tortured with electric wires, abused and humiliated in the worst possible manner. They had been threaten to death and their mother would be tortured in front of them. Those interviews are evident of the inhumane act of the Israeli forces.
I have no idea how to describe my feelings after finishing this book!! Those pictures and their heart-wrenching words are so irrefutable yet we are ignoring their sufferings.
This book is must read for everyone, each and every interviewee's experience will lead you to understand the horrifying situation of Plalestine. Specially in this 'lockdown' situation, such book will help us to figure out the true meaning of "freedom''😓😓
Those interviews were taken in 2015 by Norma Hashmi, a Malaysian activist, with help of a journalist of West Bank, Faysha Shalash. Normi took one year to do research on those interviews and Yousef M Aljamal translated the book from Arabic to English. Apart from the the interviews this book includes stories of five teenagers who were sentenced to imprisonment for 15 years, on charges of throwing stones, however, there is no evidence to prove such convictions!!! 😡🙁
As a reader I was so depressed when reading about those kids words on arrests, tortures,killings, injuries, detention and daily humiliation by the settlers or occupational forces of Israel. Palestinian children in detention centers and prison cells sometimes refuse to get food and water. They are not even allowed to use the toilet. They also tortured with electric wires, abused and humiliated in the worst possible manner. They had been threaten to death and their mother would be tortured in front of them. Those interviews are evident of the inhumane act of the Israeli forces.
I have no idea how to describe my feelings after finishing this book!! Those pictures and their heart-wrenching words are so irrefutable yet we are ignoring their sufferings.
This book is must read for everyone, each and every interviewee's experience will lead you to understand the horrifying situation of Plalestine. Specially in this 'lockdown' situation, such book will help us to figure out the true meaning of "freedom''😓😓
May 3, 2024
Buku ini menghimpunkan kisah para pejuang Palestine yang terdiri daripada kanak-kanak lelaki berumur 11 hingga 17 tahun (termasuk kisah seorang remaja perempuan) yang pernah dipenjara dan dirampas segala kebebasan dunia seorang anak dan remaja. Berat mata yang membaca, berat lagi kesukaran yang dihadapi dan keperitan saat mereka menceritakan kisah dan pengalaman mereka. Sesi temuduga kanak-kanak yang diceritakan dalam buku ini diadakan pada tahun 2015, manakala ia diterbitkan pada 2016. Majoriti mereka mengalami kesan psikologi, ada yang hilang jari, patah tulang, buta dan ada juga yang syahid. Barangkali kesemua mereka telah syahid kini dengan melihat apa yang terjadi di Palestin sejak 7 Okt 2023. Jika mereka masih hidup, umur mereka sekitar 20-an dan masih berjuang untuk meneruskan kehidupan. Moga Allah gantikan segala sengsara yang mereka alami di dunia dengan segala bentuk nikmat yang tidak terhingga di Akhirat kelak.
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
March 1, 2022
it breaks my heart reading this kind of interviews. living my adult life with crime series, documentaries & true story made me shattered to smithereens to see such a life being snatched away just because they live there; in their own homeland. this oppressions & occupations need to put an end to it because no one has the rights to take away freedom, let alone other people lives in any circumstances.
June 20, 2023
These accounts of Palestinian child prisoners are so absurd, I cannot fathom how this isn't a work of fiction. How are these stories not made up? The world continues to sit back and watch the atrocities committed by the IOF towards Palestinians. I have no words. My heart goes out to the children.
May 18, 2024
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
January 3, 2024
The book provides 24 accounts from Palestinian children from West Bank about their incarceration in Israeli prisons and the terror inflicted upon them by the Occupation Forces. Harrowing accounts of how most were captured from their homes at night without concrete charges, how they were tormented physically and mentally by their captors to not only invoke forced "confessions" to crimes they never did but to turn them against their own friends and family to avoid harsher punishments. If you want to understand why Israeli forces are increasingly branded as terrorists and flouters of International Laws, then this would be a good start.
December 31, 2023
How come a child become a prisoner?
Ya, it's true and it does exist in Israeli world. No matter who, what ages, they just didn't care at all. Every single soul of the Palestinians is a threat for them.
This book is a compilation of child prisoners who are willing to share their stories to the world, the moments that they had to face when they were abducted and jailed in the prison for no single valid reason. A child? How come you prison a child? Does it make sense?
Ayman Abbasi, he was in 9th grade when he was imprisoned. When the editor interviewed him, he was 16 at that time. And yet, the moment this book was published, he was martyred.
And so many stories about the child being imprisoned. The reality was beyond what we can think about.
"The description of life under detention by these children is heart-rending. The brutality of the Israelis against the Palestinian children needs to be recorded and exposed".
- Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Ya, it's true and it does exist in Israeli world. No matter who, what ages, they just didn't care at all. Every single soul of the Palestinians is a threat for them.
This book is a compilation of child prisoners who are willing to share their stories to the world, the moments that they had to face when they were abducted and jailed in the prison for no single valid reason. A child? How come you prison a child? Does it make sense?
Ayman Abbasi, he was in 9th grade when he was imprisoned. When the editor interviewed him, he was 16 at that time. And yet, the moment this book was published, he was martyred.
And so many stories about the child being imprisoned. The reality was beyond what we can think about.
"The description of life under detention by these children is heart-rending. The brutality of the Israelis against the Palestinian children needs to be recorded and exposed".
- Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews