Honley Palestinian activist Paveen Yaqub is on way home

Jun 4 2010 by Anne-Marie Senior, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A HONLEY activist who was seized by Israeli troops when they stormed a Gaza aid ship hopes to be home on Sunday.

Paveen Yaqub, 39, contacted her family during the early hours of yesterday morning to say she was safe and well in Turkey, after being released by the Israeli government without any charges.

But the pro-Palestinian said the ordeal – which saw the Gaza-bound aid flotilla stormed by Israeli troops this week – had left her angry and upset.

Her younger sister Nosheen, of Oldham, told the Examiner: “She is shocked, angry, upset and grieving for those who were killed or are still missing.

“She said they were split up when they were taken and some of them were beaten. Luckily she wasn’t.

“She told my brother she had to go on hunger strike to be allowed to make the first phone call home to say she was safe.

“Until we heard that, we were worried sick.

“We are all really looking forward to seeing her and will be having a big party to welcome her home.”

Paveen was among 34 Britons taken prisoner in the military-led operation on Monday.