Israeli Occupation Government Shuts Down Palestinian Institutions of Sur Baher Cultural Forum Dar Al-Hadith Kindergarten, in East Jerusalem

Jerusalem community centers shut down for `affiliation with Hamas`

February 10, 2010, Jerusalem- Ma'an –

The Israeli occupation government police department ordered the closure of the Sur Baher Cultural Forum and a kindergarten housed in the former Dar Al-Hadith Society buidling, saying they were affiliated with Hamas, community leaders said.

The orders, issued in the name of Israeli police chief Dudi Cohen, require the community institutions to shut down on 28 February for a period of one year.

Head of the Sur Baher Cultural Forum Sufyan Jadallah said police broke into his home and forced him to travel with them to the center and open its main gate. Police then conducted a search of the building, ransacked its contents, confiscated a laptop and delivered the closure order, he said.

Jadallah denounced the closure, saying it targeted a grassroots Palestinian organization that represents the Palestinian community in Sur Baher, and not a political party.

The organization said it was not affiliated with any faction and provided education and sports activities to children from the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Sur Baher, Umm Tuba the Mount of Olives and Beit Safaffa.

Jadallah said his organization was not related to the Dar Al-Hadith Society, a building now principally used as a kindergarten. "Dar Al-Hadith stopped paying rent months ago," he said, "I don't think its even still affiliated with the center."

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