IN CONCERT AND CONVERSATION, conscientious objector Omar Sa’ad and the Galilee String Quartet are in Brighton during their 9 date tour of Britain.
The young musicians are from a Druze family from the village of Maghar in Galilee. They have performed throughout Palestine and in many European cities.
In 2013, they played with Nigel Kennedy at the Proms in the Albert Hall. Omar Sa’ad gained international support as a conscientious objector after refusing to serve in the Israeli army and ‘occupy his own people – the Palestinians’. Omar was sent to prison and eventually exempted from military service after refusing the draft seven times. His younger brother Mostafa has been summoned to present himself for military service and next year he will be imprisoned for his conscientious objection.
The Quartet will play in support of the right to reject military service on grounds of conscientious objection – this right is protected under International Human Rights Law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The talented musicians will play classical western pieces (JS Bach and Mozart) and modern and traditional Arabic music.