MWA Director, Aishah Schwartz Among 100 Chosen to Join Gaza Freedom Solidarity March Departing from Cairo Dec. 29

This is it everyone; the Egyptian government has granted permission for 100 delegates to proceed onward to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their March for Freedom.

And I am one of the 100, that is quickly dwindling down as protestors outside the bus chant, "All or none." "All or none."

All I can say is - nothing happens without the permission of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. I came here independently. Every step of my journey has been facilitated. Sitting beside me is a sister from Norway, Margrethe Salvesen - she is shouting even  ow from the doorway of the bus to the crowd on the sidewalk - "There are no voices in Gaza! This is not a war!"

I agree. I said to Margrethe, and I said to those on the bus, "If you are a believer, trust God. You are here for a reason. Don't get off this bus."

Outside roughly 300 chant, "We stand divided!" "We stand divided!"

To which we reply, "You don't live in Gaza! You don't live in Gaza!"

I will do my best over the next 48-hours to keep everyone updated.

Trip of a lifetime? I suspect so.

Please remember the delegation, and the Palestinian people in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

P.S. I've just been handed a bag for delivery to the Katthan Center in Gaza; the woman pleading with me to take it. I will.

UPDATE: RELEASED! US EMBASSY IN CAIRO REFUSES TO RELEASE QUARANTINED US CITIZEN GAZA FREEDOM MARCH ADVOCATES

UPDATE (2:51 PM EG) – Marina has reported via telephone that the group members are being released one-by-one after passing through an office in the Embassy. She hasn't had her turn yet, details additional details are not available. The good news is that the incident is resolving itself and it was not reported that any of the group members had been harmed.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Marina Barakau

Mobile: 0197412890

CAIRO, EGYPT (GFM) Dec. 29, 2009 – In downtown Cairo this afternoon Gaza Freedom March (GFM) advocates, including a group of roughly 30 U.S. citizens, are being detained in three separate quarantine areas within the U.S. Embassy's Garden City compound.

PHOTO RIGHT: A similar scene took place in front of the French Embassy in Cairo on Dec. 27, 2009. (Aishah Schwartz)

In a telephone interview with Muslimah Writers Alliance Director, Aishah Schwartz, GFM women's group organizer, Marina Barakau stated, "American citizens and 1,400 Gaza Freedom March advocates from 43 countries worldwide are demanding that the illegal siege of Gaza be lifted."

"We also ask how it is that an alleged democratic government could willingly participate in the detainment of its own citizen nationals at their own Embassy, and further demand that all due diligence be exercised in securing our immediate release," Barakau added.

Barakau stated she has also contacted the group's legal council coordinator, Sally Newman.

In the meantime, three members of the detained U.S. citizen group are meeting with U.S. officials in the Embassy's offices.

VIDEO (begin at 2:12 mark) 

Muslimah Writers Alliance Director, Aishah Schwartz and Gaza Freedom March Delegates Meet with Cairo's Alwafd Editor-in-Chief, Said Abd El Khalek

More at http://www.facebook.com/aishah.schwartz

GAZA FREEDOM MARCH thought for the day...

"Sometime our efforts are deemed as small or even 'insignificant', but what those with closed minds cannot or refuse to see is that, in the grand scheme of things, those collective efforts manifest inspiration in others that creates a wave of effort that ultimately, insha'Allah, cannot be ignored." - Aishah Schwartz
Photo: CodePink Gaza Freedom March advocate, Cairo, Egypt.

Photo: CodePink Gaza Freedom March Demonstrator. Cairo, Egypt

Gaza Freedom March Update from Cairo Egypt and Delegate, Aishah Schwartz

Preparing to head out for an interview at the offices of the Cairo's Alwafd newspaper, together with Jane Manai, a Muslimah Activist from France, and Gaza Freedom March a representative for CodePink, in support of the ongoing efforts in appealing to the Egyptian government to allow Gaza Freedom March delegates to enter Gaza. To commemorate the Israeli invasion and massacre in Gaza that resulted in the tragic loss of more than 1,400 lives and injuries to over 5,400, including 300 children over a 23-day period that began on Dec. 27, 2008, delegatess will stage a candle-light vigil and silent protest later this evening in front of the Lawyers Syndicate in downtown Cairo.