ACTIVISTS RECOUNT PAINFUL EXPERIENCE AS ISRAELI DETAINEES

SHAH ALAM (Malaysia), June 6 (Bernama) -- An activist with the humanitarian aid
ship convoy recounted a humiliating and unforgettable experience of being
ordered to strip naked when he was interrogated by the Israeli military.

A Muslim Care Malaysia executive councillor Abd Halim Mohd Redzuan said he was
interrogated for half an hour, during which the military tried to associate him
with al-Qaeda.

"They probably thought I am a terrorist as I spotted long hair in the passport
but my hair was short like a commando when I was arrested," he told reporters
here Sunday.

Earlier, Abdul Halim and eight of 12 Malaysian activists, who were on board a
Gaza-bound aid ship subjected to a violent and bloody Israeli attack, attended a
homecoming reception at the Prime Minister Najib Razak's residence in Kuala
Lumpur.

Abd Halim, 40, said he was held at an old military prison along with a Bahrain
Member of Parliament and an Indonesian mosque official for 15 hours.

"We were told that we were being transferred to another prison but were
delighted to see other activists when we reached the Israeli border with Jordan
where we were released on Wednesday.

"As soon as we were released, I called up Lifeline4Gaza (LL4G) chairman Zulkifli
Mohd Nani and my wife with a mobile phone belonging to an officer with the
Malaysian Embassy in Jordan," he said.

Abdul Halim was one of three Malaysian activists, who was shot at with rubber
bullets which hit their heads, backs and thighs, when the Israeli commandos
stormed a Turkish aid ship "Mavi Marmara" on Monday.

Meanwhile, LL4G mission chief Noor Azman Mohd Samsuddin, 41, said he was forced
to sit down on his knees with his hands cuffed behind his back for 15 hours.

"After that, we were blindfolded and taken to a prison where we were held for 12
more hours in a cell divided between two and four persons.

"Once they were satisfied with the interrogation, we were told to leave Israel
immediately as they told us that we could be charged in court if we remained for
more than three days in the country," he added.

Undaunted by the experience, Noor Azman said LL4G planned to send another aid
convoy to Gaza.
-- BERNAMA