Prisoner awarded PhD in jail
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Published yesterday (updated) 04/09/2010 15:17 GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A
Palestinian prisoner held in the Negev prison was awarded a Doctor of
Philosophy in Public Administration from the American World University, the
Center for Detainees' Studies announced Sunday.

Abdel Hafez Saadi Gaithan's doctoral thesis was entitled Strategic Planning
in Qabilia, a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank district of
Nablus, a statement issued by the center's director Rafat Hamdouna said.

Hamdouna said prisoners celebrated Gaithan's success by distributing sweets,
biscuits and soft drinks, with many describing his achievement as "a victory
over the occupation."

"[Gaithan's] Phd was a challenge to break the policy of occupation, which
attempts to abuse the captive and isolate him from the world," the statement
read.

The PhD was awarded to Gaithan by AWU in conjunction with Birzeit
University.