We, the undersigned, call on the Minister for Immigration Peter Dutton MP to issue a visa to Palestinian American writer and journalist Ali Abunimah to address public meetings in Australia between 21st March and 31st March 2016.

The denial of an entry visa to enable Mr Abunimah to speak in Australia about the Israeli occupation of Palestine amounts to a denial of his right to freedom of speech. We note that just last month former Chief of General Staff of the Israeli Defence Force, Ret. Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, was granted a visa by the Australian government to address fundraising events for the United Israel Appeal and defend Israel's record of military aggression in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including war crimes committed by forces under his command in Gaza.

Mr Abunimah, a US citizen, was denied an Electronic Travel Authority by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection in January. After being denied a visitor visa, Mr Abunimah applied for a Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) visa on 13th February 2016, at the request of Immigration staff at the Australian High Commission in Ottawa. To date his visa has not been issued, despite his scheduled departure being less than one week away.

Mr Abunimah is a journalist and co-founder of the Electronic Intifada, a nonprofit, independent online publication focusing on Palestine. He is the author of One Country, A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse and The Battle for Justice in Palestine. Mr Abunimah has been an active part of the movement for justice in Palestine for 20 years and is the recipient of a 2013 Lannan Cultural Freedom Fellowship.

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Mr Abunimah is scheduled to speak at the following public events in Australia:

SYDNEY

Palestine: The Struggle for Freedom featuring Ali Abunimah

1pm Monday 21st March, University of NSW, Mathews Theatre C

https://www.facebook.com/events/1693961357510269/

The Struggle For Justice In Palestine: An evening with Ali Abunimah

6.30pm Monday 21st March, Sydney University, Carslaw Lecture Theatre 273

https://www.facebook.com/events/1661316384119180/

PERTH

The Battle for Justice in Palestine: a public meeting with Ali Abunimah

6.30pm Tuesday 22nd March, University of WA, Murdoch Lecture Theatre (Arts Bldg)

https://www.facebook.com/events/1693961357510269/

Palestinian Community of WA dinner with Ali Abunimah

6.30 pm Wednesday March 23, Beiyrut Lebanese Restaurant, 75 Wanneroo Rd, Tuart Hill

Tickets available from: https://www.trybooking.com/KSAS

MELBOURNE

Marxism Conference: Ideas to Change the System (with Ramzy Baroud)

2pm Saturday 26th March, Victorian College of the Arts

Tickets available from: http://marxismconference.org

In the Eye of the Storm: Palestine and the New Media

an Australians for Palestine Symposium

9am-5.30pm Thursday, 31st March, 242 Telstra Conference Centre, Cnr Exhibition & Lonsdale Streets

Tickets available from: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/in-the-eye-of-the-storm-palestine-and-the-new-media-tickets-22185866524