Osman Ali knows how to run. In 2008 he ran for his life after jumping out the back of a toilet block when he was taken out of jail for one night. He had been in a Sudanese military prison for 6 months for refusing to fight against his own people in Darfur. When he jumped out the window the guards who were waiting for him heard. They started shooting. But Ali kept running. Only when he stopped did he realize that he had been shot.
Ali has been imprisoned 7 times in his life, not once was he guilty of a crime. The seventh time began in October 2015 when he was summonsed to the Holot detention centre in Israel for 12 months. Holot was established to make the lives of refugees so miserable that they return to the places of danger that they ran from. But the government did not succeed to break Ali's spirit. Instead Ali used the time to write his blog, teach English to other detainees, and of course, to run. Ali has run all over Israel – he competed in half marathons in Kiriyat Shmona, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Ashdod. When he was in detention in Holot he even left for the day to compete in the Herzilya 5km run –he placed 5th in the country!
Ali is leading a team of Israelis and refugees who will run together in the Tel Aviv Night run on October 31st. Through September and October Ali is leading an 8 week training course to get the team ready for the run. On October 31st we will show the world that there are Israelis who not only stand together with refugees, but also run together! It will be a public act of solidarity. This run has become quintessentially Tel Aviv and it is the perfect time and place to show that refugees and Israelis belong on the same team.
About the Hotline
The Hotline for Refugees and Migrants is Israel’s leading organization protecting the rights of refugees, migrant workers and victims of human trafficking. For over 15 years Hotline staff and volunteers have been visiting Israel’s immigration detention centers to monitor conditions, meet with detainees and provide paralegal intervention and legal representation. We represent some of the most vulnerable people in Israel and advocate for government policies consistent with a just, equal and democratic Israel.
The Hotline has three main departments which carry out our activities:
Crisis Intervention Center: We operate an advice center offering consultation and paralegal representation. In order to bring these services to immigration detainees, we make frequent visits (approximately twice per week) to detention facilities, including the "open" facility Holot, providing on-site information and support. Over the years, we have released thousands of refugees and migrants from detention through our paralegal intervention.
Litigation: Our lawyers litigate those cases with the most potential to affect policies and practices. By ensuring better access to justice for refugees and migrants, we are not only providing critical services, but also shaping the legal landscape in Israel by addressing legislation and procedures that violate their rights.
Public Policy and Education: Through research and policy papers, media work, public events, and meetings with stakeholders and decision makers, we educate and inform the public, the government and international bodies about migration policy and its implications, both for migrants and society as a whole. Our policy recommendations are informed by our hands-on experience and expertise. We encourage an informed and evidence-based discussion on migration, rather than one guided by prejudices and unsubstantiated assumptions.
