QUICK FACTS
Date of Birth
1961
Baqa al-Gharbiya, Palestine
Place of Birth
Why Featured?
Walid Daqqa's long imprisonment and activism make him a significant figure in the Palestinian narrative, symbolizing resilience and resistance.
BRIEF BIO
Walid Daqqa is a Palestinian writer and activist who has been in Israeli occupation prison since 1986. Despite his long-term imprisonment, he has continued to contribute to Palestinian literature and thought.
LAST UPDATED
DATE
Monday, January 26, 2026
MAJOR MILESTONES
Key dates & turning points
Imprisonment in 1986: Daqqa was arrested and sentenced to 37 years in prison for his involvement in the killing of an Israeli soldier.
Marriage in 1999: He got married while in prison.
Fathering a Child in 2020: Daqqa managed to father a child, Milad, by smuggling his sperm out of prison.
Diagnosis of Bone Marrow Cancer in 2022: He was diagnosed with advanced bone marrow cancer.
Extended Sentence: His sentence was extended by two years in 2017.
CONTRIBUTIONS
What they did, and why it matters
Literary Contributions: Daqqa has written several books, articles, and poems while in prison...See More
Education: Obtained his master's degree in political science while imprisoned...See More
Advocacy for Prisoners' Rights: Became a prominent figure in the Palestinian prisoners' movement.
Symbol of Defiance: His marriage and fatherhood while in prison symbolize resistance against Israeli jail authorities.
Inspiring Cultural Works: His life and experiences inspired the play “A Parallel Time,” reflecting his and fellow prisoners' experiences.
Disclaimer: This chat uses AI to generate responses inspired by the profile content and publicly available information. It does not represent the real person.
Last updated
Jan 26, 2026
DISCOVER
Profiles from the Same Path
A rotating spotlight on voices that shaped Palestine’s culture, thought, and history.