In East Jerusalem, the Educational Bookshop holds a special place in Mahmoud and Murad Muna’s hearts, being intertwined with their earliest memories. However, a recent incident has shaken their world when Israeli police raided the store, arrested the owners, and confiscated books, citing suspicions of incitement and support for terrorism. This crackdown is part of a broader pattern of stifling free speech in Israel, including boycotting newspapers, accusing journalists of militant activity, and censoring films.
The detained owners, Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna, were released on bail but face house arrest and store bans. The conditions of their detention were described as harsh and dehumanizing, with allegations of mistreatment by guards. Despite the challenges, the bookstores remain open, receiving overwhelming support from visitors, including those expressing shame over the police actions.
The incident has raised concerns about the state of free speech in Jerusalem and the West Bank, with Mahmoud Muna highlighting it as part of a larger trend of censorship targeting Palestinian voices. He hopes that this event will mark the end of such attacks on cultural institutions and free speech. The ordeal underscores the complex political landscape in the region, where differing narratives and viewpoints are continuously contested and suppressed.
