Jerusalem’s Educational Bookshop Emergency Appeal

Emergency Appeal to Support Freedom of Expression, the Right to Read and the Right to Publish

We are Interlink Publishing, the only Palestinian family-owned publisher in the United States. We are launching a U.S.-focused appeal for the Educational Bookshop to help cover the costs of restocking, legal and court fees, and salaries.

Support the Educational Bookshop in Jerusalem and the renowned “Booksellers of Jerusalem”

Campaign Target 100K

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that every human being “has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” (See below for further information on freedom of expression).

The Educational Bookshop

The Educational Bookshop is a family-run, independent chain of bookshops in occupied East Jerusalem. Since first opening its doors forty years ago, the bookshop has been thriving, today they are well-known to researchers, diplomats, journalists and tourists from countless countries, including Israelis.

The Bookshop specializes in Arabic and English language books on Middle East studies including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the history of Jerusalem, biographies and a large selection of literature. The books sold are published by world-renowned publishing houses and international research institutions.

Mahmoud, who has often been referred to as “The Bookseller of Jerusalem,” also manages various cultural initiatives across Palestine and published the first Arabic edition of Granta magazine. Ahmad has been a bookseller at the Educational Bookshop for more than a decade and represents the third generation of booksellers within the distinguished Muna family.

Bookshop raided by Israeli police: Mahmoud and Ahmad arrested

On 9 February, Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna were arbitrarily arrested by undercover Israeli police while working at the Bookshops. They were handcuffed, taken to prison and physically abused by police. Additionally, the police confiscated more than 250 books (some have since been returned). Two days later, on 11 February, Mahmoud and his nephew Ahmad were released under several restrictions lasting for a month.

The charge against Mahmoud and Ahmad was initially suspicion of selling contents that is “inciting for violence,” but due to lack of evidence it was later altered to “disturbing the public order.” Resulting in keeping them for the night in custody.

“I have never encountered a case where someone is held in custody overnight for suspicion of disturbing public order,” said Attorney Nasser Odeh, who represents the booksellers.

“They used Google Translate on the books, and anything they didn’t like, they took,” said Murad Muna, Mahmoud’s brother. “They even found a Haaretz newspaper with a picture of the hostages and asked what it was, saying it was incitement. They took every book with a Palestinian flag on it.”

Booksellers are not criminals. The arrest of Mahmoud and Ahmad was terrifying and not only violated their human rights, but is a stark reminder of the ongoing campaign to stifle free speech and celebration of culture particularly in the city of Jerusalem. Bookshop are a cornerstone for a healthy and inclusive societies. Booksellers are important in the facilitation of reading, writing, conversing and creating mutual understanding and respect in any society.

PLEASE JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE EDUCATIONAL BOOKSHOP

Funds raised will be used to:

1. Supplement legal support all the way until the case is closed.

2. Replace confiscated/destroyed books and repair damages to the Bookshop

3. Support staff while Mahmoud and Ahmad are banned from the Bookshop

4. Enable The Educational Bookshop to continue its educational mission, including internships for future Palestinian booksellers and publishers

5. Enhance the security and the safety of the bookshops premises due to threats received by right wing activists inciting against the bookshops.

More about The Educational Bookshop:

What people say about Mahmoud, Ahmad & The Educational Bookshop:

“Mahmoud Muna’s wonderful bookshop [is] the best in Jerusalem ... [he] is a wonderful, wise and learned guy and has encouraged generations of travellers to read more deeply into the contested history of Jerusalem.” William Dalrymple, writer

‘I am proud to call Mahmoud and Ahmad friends. Both have been a source of strength and professional support to me, and Mahmoud and I have worked together, travelled together and shared a stage together before public audiences over many years. I have nothing but respect and admiration for the work they do in preserving, promoting and championing Palestinian literary culture in Jerusalem.’ Matthew Teller, writer

‘Another brilliant Muna family member, Ahmad is educated in one of the top universities who could have easily stayed abroad, yet decided to return to create positive change in his homeland.’ Dominika Blachnicka-Ciacek

‘I was at university with Mahmoud and I know him to be a thoughtful and generous reader, a man who cares passionately about freedom of speech and literature. His bookshops are a beacon of freedom in a bleak environment. It is a grim moment for culture and freedom when people are arrested for selling books and their books are seized. The parallels are obvious and horrible.’ Lynn Gaspard, Publisher, Saqi Books

‘I know Mahmoud well and admire him greatly. Bookselling is never an easy profession and it’s really challenging under occupation. Mahmoud’s shops are a haven of ideas, stories and imagination in a bleak place. He’s a quiet hero.’ Andrew Franklin, Founder, Profile Books and trustee of Index on Censorship

“Mahmoud has a gentle approach and engages in conversation with anyone who wants to talk. He is an address for many visitors to the city who want to understand the social and political complexities of the city. Ahmad has more of a generous spirit, always smiling and welcoming to all. Both are fount of knowledge. The Bookshop and the entire Muna family are among the greatest treasures of the beautiful city of Jerusalem.” -Diane Paul, human rights researcher and activist.