Georges Ibrahim Abdallah is known to have spent over four decades in the isolation of French jails, all the while maintaining his innocence in the face of wide-reaching allegations. In his situation, the echoes of significant judicial, political and public misrepresentation can be clearly heard, organized systematically by French officials and the nation’s political machinery. He was set before a jury which had been swayed by the outcries, pleas and tears from the kin of the victims of the shocking attacks in Paris in 1986. His plight bears striking similarities to the early Christian martyrs subjected to the horrors of the Roman Colosseum.
Abdallah was taken into custody by the French law enforcement in the year 1984, in the backdrop of the murder of two respected diplomats, one hailing from the United States and the other from Israel, in the city of Paris in 1982. It goes without saying that Abdallah vehemently denied his involvement in any such event. Law enforcement personnel bore witness to a man who exuded courtesy and gentleness, yet possessed an iron resolve. The decision was made to levy false allegations against him, condemning him to a lifetime of imprisonment.
Concurrently, a wave of violence was taking hold in Paris in the year 1986, marked by a spate of bombings. The arm of the law seemingly twisted itself to pin the blame on him, even though there was a glaring absence of any concrete evidence linking him to these violent attacks. Abdallah, a foreigner in France, was finding himself at the receiving end of judgement constructed largely on the color of his skin.
Meanwhile, turmoil was spreading across the world. The Western powers were occupied with supporting the mujahideen fighters in their battle against the Soviet army in Afghanistan. Moreover, the world was grappling with the heat of the Iran-Iraq War, instigated in the year 1980 due to an unprovoked attack by Saddam Hussein on Iran.
Amidst all of this, the figure of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah was brought into the orbit of French political disputes, becoming a tool for different factions within France. This ushered in a scenario where public service was being overrun by vested private interests. Within this framework, Abdallah emerged as a living caricature of the essence of Palestine and the honor of defiance against oppression.
There was an encounter between Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and Bishop Capucci, where they engaged in an earnest dialogue. Following this meeting, Bishop Capucci voiced his conviction of Abdallah’s innocence, affirming that he was completely free of blame.
The situation surrounding Abdallah isn’t merely one of law and judiciary, but instead represents a broader ethical failure. It serves as a reflective pane thrown in front of the French Republic, revealing a side that’s less than glamorous—the state at one of its most ignominious junctures.
The post The Story of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah: A Struggle Against Injustice appeared first on Real News Now.
