Remembering "Anita" Emilia Anette Damiani Shanley

That the Parliament notes the sad passing of Emilia Anette Damiani Shanley, better known as Anita; understands that, at the age of 10, Anita and her family were removed from their homes in Palestine at gun point and forced to seek refuge in Lebanon, never to be allowed to return to the country of her birth; recognises that Anita lived a remarkably active and accomplished life, first gaining her Masters in Philosophy at the American University of Beirut (AUB), before going into teaching, travelling widely, and speaking at UN conferences worldwide; understands that Anita left Beirut to work in Los Angeles as a reporter and playwright, and that she later went on to study for a PhD in English Literature at the University of Edinburgh, where she met her husband, Myles Shanley; notes that the couple moved to London where she continued to teach, and that Anita then spent two years in Saudi Arabia as a female lecturer before returning to the UK where she became head of Arabic teaching for the Inner London Education Authority; notes that, in 1992, the family moved to Edinburgh, and that Anita began work as a translator for the NHS and police force, and carried on working until the age of 83; understands that, following her retirement, she wrote and published a book; acknowledges that Anita was a dedicated activist for Palestinian rights and a passionate advocate of Palestinian culture, and was involved in Medical Aid for Palestinians; understands that she also assisted with the Fairtrade Palestinian shop on Edinburgh’s George Street, taught Arabic to Palestinian children and was involved in virtually every Palestinian society in Edinburgh, forging connections with other Palestinians in Glasgow and Stirling to ensure that, despite their collective refugee status, Palestinian culture would survive; considers that Anita was a quiet but determined voice promoting unity and a sense of identity among Scottish Palestinian refugees, and sends its deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved her.