The mother of Tasneem Odeh, a young woman from Jerusalem currently imprisoned, has spoken out about the profound impact her daughter’s detention has had on their family. Khitam Odeh expressed her deep sorrow and longing for her daughter, who is serving an 18-month sentence in an Israeli prison.
According to her mother, Tasneem’s arrest occurred during her final year of university as she was preparing her graduation project. The trial was difficult, and the sentence came as a shock to the entire family.
“My biggest dream is to see my daughter free,” Khitam Odeh stated, emphasizing her desire for Tasneem to resume her life and pursue her aspiration of becoming a lawyer. She described Tasneem as intelligent, courageous, and deeply cherished.
The mother further revealed that the ordeal of imprisonment has visibly changed Tasneem. Despite this, Tasneem attempts to project strength and hope during brief family visits in court. Her absence has created a significant void in their home for over a year. Khitam Odeh highlighted that Tasneem’s strong faith provides her with resilience and offers the family strength to endure this hardship.
The absence of Tasneem during holidays and special occasions has been particularly painful for the family. Tasneem, a 22-year-old law student, has been held in Damon prison since December 2024, convicted on charges of incitement. She is scheduled for release on April 5th. Tasneem is also the daughter of the late Barakat Odeh, and is currently the only female prisoner from Jerusalem in Israeli prisons.
Tasneem’s family continues to campaign for her release and advocates for the rights of all Palestinian prisoners. They maintain that hope for freedom remains unbroken.
