STATEMENT
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) mourns the passing of Teresa Regina de Ávila e Silva, the mother of our detained colleague, human rights defender Thiago Ávila. Our hearts are with Thiago and his family in this moment of profound loss.
Thiago and Saif Abu Keshek remain unlawfully detained following Israel’s violent attack on civilian vessels of the Global Sumud Fotilla in international waters. Their continued imprisonment is not only arbitrary and illegal, but also an act of profound cruelty that has denied Thiago the most basic human right: to say farewell to his mother.
In the years we have known Thiago, he spoke often and lovingly of his mother—a woman who helped shape his deep commitment to justice and human rights. It is profoundly devastating that a mother devoted to humanity passed away while her son sits in prison for defending the humanity of others.
This cruelty is not unique. It reflects a long-standing and systematic practice under Israel’s colonial, apartheid system, where thousands of Palestinians held in arbitrary and administrative detention are routinely denied the ability to share final moments with loved ones, attend funerals, or mourn with family and community.
Thiago’s grief is inseparable from the broader injustice endured by Palestinians for generations.
We mourn with Thiago and his family.
We demand his immediate release, as well as that of Saif Abu Keshek and all Palestinian political prisoners.
We will continue to fight for a world free of oppression, where no one is forced to grieve behind prison walls, and where all people live free.
Rest in Power, Teresa Regina de Ávila e Silva. 🇵🇸