We at AIM stand firmly with Fatema Zainab Rajwani, a courageous young sister who has taken a principled and necessary stand against the genocide in Palestine. At just 20 years old, Fatema has displayed extraordinary bravery in opposing injustice, taking action where institutions have failed to act.
On 6 August 2024, Fatema was detained following her participation in a direct action protest at Elbit Systems UK, a company complicit in the manufacture of weapons used to perpetuate war crimes against Palestinians. As part of a coordinated effort to expose and disrupt this machinery of violence, Fatema and her fellow activists took meaningful and targeted action, reportedly causing damage to equipment valued at over £1 million. Far from being an act of senseless destruction, this was a deliberate and proportionate intervention against a company enabling genocide.
These actions were not reckless; they were a principled and necessary response to the catastrophic silence of institutions and governments around the world. When mechanisms of accountability fail and innocent lives are systematically targeted, it falls on individuals with moral clarity and courage to act.
The context of her actions cannot be ignored. Since October 2023, over 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with thousands more injured and displaced. In Lebanon, over 3,583 lives have been lost and 15,244 injured due to relentless Israeli aggression. These atrocities continue while figures like Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted for war crimes, operate with impunity.
Since her arrest, Fatema has faced deeply concerning and disproportionate treatment in prison. Despite meeting standard bail conditions and providing strong character references, she remains detained in HMP Bronzefield under harsh and punitive conditions. Reports suggest she has been subjected to prolonged isolation and limited access to resources, and her communication with her family has been severely restricted.
We must not allow this sister to bear the weight of this struggle alone. Her actions were rooted in principle and justice, and it is our collective duty as a community to ensure that she is protected and supported.
As Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a) said:
“One who sees an oppressor committing oppression and does not try to stop them through action or speech or prayer, it is as if they themselves have committed the oppression.”
(Source: Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Hadith 333)
We pray for her swift release and for her continued strength during this difficult time.
Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission (AIM)
21st December 2024