The Palestinian Peace Cyclist: Mohammad

On this Peace Cycle we were lucky enough to have Mohammad, a Palestinian living in the West Bank. He met the 2004 Peace Cyclists when they rode through his university in Palestine and when he learned that there would be a second Peace Cycle in 2006 he was very very keen to join!
It took a huge amount of work and effort to get Mohammad to London to take part, but the Peace Cycle organisors managed it through hefty diplomatic manouvering!

Mohammad is an incredible person, I often wished that all those Israeli occupation supporters could meet him. He's so sunny on the outside, the first to laugh at even the silliest joke, but you can see that he carries the weight that living under occupation brings.

On the course of the ride I became good friends with him. Ironically, I largely owe this friendship to 'Heartbreak High'! It is an Australian high school series which was played on ABC and was very popular when I was at school! I was walking back to our youth hostel in Milano with Mohammad, who until this moment I had rarely spoken to, when he turned to me and asked: 'Do you know the TV show 'High Heart Break'?' I had no idea what he was talking about! He sighed and said: 'it is a very good show. My family and I love it. I think it from Australia. I love the character Drazic-' at this point I exclaimed: 'Drazic?!' and grabbed my eyebrow with my fingers, indicating the eyebrow ring Drazic wears. Mohammad's face lit up and grabbed his eyebrow as well: 'yes, Drazic! He have girlfriend called Anita!' We both laughed and laughed, each exclaiming about Drazic and holding our eyebrows!

And so this is how I first got to know Mohammad.


The Peace Cycle is now in Palestine, but for Mohammad it has not been a very welcome home coming. To enter the country from Jordan he was questioned in a private room with the Israeli security forces for two hours, the group altogether had to wait eight hours to get in. And then, as they tried to enter Jenin, where the Freedom Theatre (the Peace Cycle's chosen charity) is, Mohammad was again separated from the group. After seven hours of waiting the Peace Cyclists were turned away and went to Nazareth instead. Mohammad is still with the Israeli security forces in Jenin.
Here is the latest update: (Friday 8th September)

"Mohammad is with Nimer, our guide in Palestine, who is taking good care of him. They are still in Jenin. No confirmation about Mohammad's restrictions - but he has an appointment with the Israeli authorities in a few days so more will become clear then. The group haven't actually got to meet Nimer properly yet, but he managed to pass some food through the barriers to them yesterday, and it was a very emotional moment.

The cyclists will spend tonight in Nazareth, and early tomorrow morning they will try to enter the West Bank and make their way to Qalqilya, which is the scheduled stop for tomorrow. They will then follow the original itinerary to Jerusalem. Of course this means they have not been able to visit the people of El Fa'raa, Assira, Jenin and Tulkarm. This will be terribly disappointing for all the people in those places who were so looking forward to meeting the Peace Cycle and had spent a lot of time preparing for their visit. We will try our hardest to go back up to Jenin at some point at the end of the ride, as it is very important to us that we visit the Freedom Theatre."

One of the Peace Cyclists also added: (Friday 8th Sept)

"We saw Mohammad yesterday [Thursday] as we were about to leave the checkpoint where we had sat for seven hours. We were not allowed to meet but could talk through grill separated by about 50 yards. It seems there will be some 'punishment' but not totally clear yet what this entails. This has been wholly depressing and more depressing then our problems with checkpoints. He is waiting for us on 'the other side' and we hope to meet very soon. As always, he was smiling. That guy is worth his weight in gold."

There is a rumour that as 'punishment' for taking part in the Peace Cycle, Mohammad will lose his right to leave his village. This has not been confirmed, but it is clear that some sort of 'punishment' will be given to him.

He sent me a text message this morning, though at that time I was unaware at just how precarious his situation was: '... u know what happen with us in palestine from israel so we now in cheak point again to entear palestine. For me am scare because maybe put me on black list this mean cant go out, suffer with israeli cheak point more and more i will send more information...'

I want to share this with you and would like you to share it with others. Mohammad's only sin is being born a Palestinian. The Peace Cycle was the first time he has ever left his country and the first time he has ever experienced freedom from an occupying army. For this experience, it may be that he can never leave again, never even leave the confines of his village.

I feel so sad for my friend.

He is being punished for getting on a bike and riding through Europe singing, calling greetings and dancing.

He is being punished for trying to make his life, and the lives of his family and friends brighter.

He is being punished for taking a stand.