Joint Statement: Condemning the Decision to Close Burj Al-Luqluq Community Centre and Society in Jerusalem

The undersigned organizations condemn the decision by the Israeli occupation authorities to close the Burj  AL-LuqLuq Community Centre and Society in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem for six months, renewable, and view it as a dangerous escalation and a direct targeting of Palestinian civil society institutions in Jerusalem. The forced raid of the society’s headquarters, the expulsion of its staff, and the summoning of several team members reflect a repressive approach aimed at suffocating Palestinian cultural and social activity and imposing further restrictions on its national institutions under flimsy legal pretexts. This decision comes within the framework of a systematic policy led by the occupation government to shrink Palestinian civic space in Jerusalem.

For many years, Burj Al-Luqluq Community Centre and Society has served as a safe space and a community anchor for residents of the Old City. It has provided educational, cultural, and sports services to thousands of children, youth, and women, contributing to strengthening resilience in the face of marginalization and exclusion policies. Its closure does not simply mean shutting the doors of a building or suspending routine activities; it means closing a space of hope for children and young people and depriving hundreds of families of vital and essential services.

The organizations believe that this decision is part of an ongoing policy targeting institutions that promote Palestinian national and cultural identity in Jerusalem. It comes in the context of plans aimed at reshaping the demographic and social landscape of the Old City and seeking control over strategic sites within it. This constitutes a blatant violation of fundamental human rights, foremost among them the freedoms of association, civic engagement, and expression, as guaranteed by international conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Accordingly, the silence of the international community is no longer justifiable. It must assume its legal and moral responsibilities and take urgent and effective steps to halt these arbitrary measures, ensure the protection of civil society institutions in Jerusalem from policies of closure and criminalization, and pressure the occupation authorities to stop targeting Palestinian civil society in occupied Jerusalem.

Signatories:

7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media
Assiwar- the Feminist Arab Movement
The Arab Culture Association
Al-Tufula Centre - Nazareth
Kayan – Feminist Organization
The Social Development Committee Haifa
alQaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society
Women Against Violence 
The Arab Center for Alternative Planning
Tishreen Association