(NEW YORK)—PEN America is appalled by Israeli authorities’ raid on the Palestinian Educational Bookshop in East Jerusalem, and outraged that its owners were detained and now banned from their own shop.
“Selling books is not a crime. We condemn this attack on an essential Palestinian cultural institution, which is known and rightfully celebrated for being a home for a diversity of books and perspectives, and we are appalled at the authorities’ deliberate targeting of Palestinian literature,” said Liesl Gerntholtz, managing director of PEN America’s Freedom to Write Center. “Now more than ever, books offer a bridge towards understanding, sharing knowledge, and fostering dialogue. When authorities arrest booksellers for the “crime” of selling books, they threaten everyone’s right to understand and engage the stories and ideas those books hold. We call on the Israeli authorities to drop all charges against Mahmoud and Ahmed Muna, end the ban on them, and to stop engaging in attacks on free expression and on Palestinian voices and culture.”
Mahmoud Muna, a published author and owner of the bookstore, along with his nephew, Ahmad, were detained on vague charges of “disturbing public order,” according to their lawyer, Nasser Odeh, following the raid on Sunday night. Israeli police initially cited “selling books containing incitement and support for terrorism” including a reference to a children’s coloring book titled From the Jordan to the Sea, as grounds for the raid, arrests, and detention. The authorities later sought an order that the booksellers be held in custody for an additional eight days, a request that appears to have been denied.
At Monday morning’s court hearing, the judge granted a one-day extension of the detention, in addition to ordering Mr Muna and his nephew to serve five days under house arrest, and banning them from the bookstore for an additional twenty days. Both have now been released.
The owners’ brother told journalists that police officers used Google translate to determine which books to seize, confiscating any publication with a Palestinian flag on it.
Mr. Muna and his nephew were released from prison on Tuesday morning, but will remain under house arrest.
The bookstore, a “cultural cornerstone of East Jerusalem,” has been in existence for over forty years and hosts panels, film screenings, and other cultural events. On Monday morning, Mahmoud’s brother, Murad Muna reopened one of the family bookstores expressing the importance of defiance against the silencing of Palestinian voices. Many long-term and new customers gathered in large numbers in a show of support.
These arrests reflect Israel’s increased restrictions on free expression since October 7, 2023. According to PEN America’s 2023 Freedom to Write Index, Israel is the fifth worst jailer of writers globally.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057