The arrest of a Palestinian Christian student by Israeli authorities has sparked significant concern among Anglican bishops, who have voiced their distress over the situation. The student, Natalie Abu Dayyeh, is accused of engaging in activities considered terrorist in nature, leading to her detention.
Abu Dayyeh, a student at Birzeit University and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, was reportedly arrested violently on June 2 alongside three other Palestinian women. Her detention echoes the recent case of another Palestinian Christian, Layan Nasir, who faced a similar ordeal.
Nasir, affiliated with St Peter’s Anglican Church in Birzeit, had her first encounter with Israeli authorities in 2021 due to alleged involvement with the Democratic Progressive Student Pole (DPSP), a group banned by Israel. Although initially held for two months, she was released on bail, only to be detained again in April 2024 without charges for eight months.
In 2025, Nasir faced another arrest, resulting in an additional eight-month imprisonment before her release. The recurring detentions have raised concerns about the treatment of Palestinian Christians in Israeli custody.
Bishop Imad Haddad of the Evangelical Lutheran Church expressed his shock upon learning about Abu Dayyeh’s arrest, highlighting the family’s distress over her unknown whereabouts. “We are incredibly disturbed by the reality that Natalie now joins the thousands of Palestinians in Israeli detention without charge or trial,” Bishop Haddad stated, emphasizing the deep injustice faced by Palestinians in military detention.
Four Anglican bishops from Chelmsford, Gloucester, Norwich, and Southwark have extended their solidarity to Bishop Haddad, addressing the difficulties endured by both Abu Dayyeh and Nasir’s families. They underscored the severe impact of prolonged detentions without charges, remarking on the extreme power exercised through secretive evidence.
The bishops assured their continued prayers for Abu Dayyeh and mentioned bringing up her case in the House of Lords. They accused Israel of breaching the Geneva Convention by detaining her outside occupied territory.
In their letter, the bishops included a verse from the Psalms: “He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
