Fight goes on, vows Paveen

THE fight to raise awareness of Palestinian people’s plight goes on for freed humanitarian aid volunteer Paveen Yaqub.

The 39-year-old, who works for Oldham Council, will speak at organised peace demonstrations in Dewsbury and Manchester this weekend after being reunited with her family on Wednesday.

She will also attend a meeting at the Foreign Office in London next week to find out what the Government is planning to do about the conflict.

Paveen, who lives in Honley, Holmfirth, was on board the Mavi Marmara as part of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla when it was raided by Israeli forces on May 30. Nine people were killed.

She was arrested and deported to Turkey along with other aid workers and members of pro-Palestine groups also on the flotilla.

Paveen, who had booked three weeks’ annual leave from work to make the trip, says Israeli troops took trophy pictures of her, mocked her in Hebrew and took pleasure in humiliating her.

She said: “People keep asking me whether I regret taking part in the aid mission and the answer is definitely not.

“I feel more determined than ever. If this can happen to humanitarian aid volunteers it makes my blood run cold to think about what is happening to civilians.

She added: “I feel as though I have a responsibility to share this truth and get our government to follow up their words with actions.”