Rights groups condemn Israel Police decision to ban Sudan Genocide protests nationwide
Protesters told The Jerusalem Post that the right to demonstrate in a democracy like Israel was important and that this demonstration was calling for accountability.
A planned protest by Israel’s Sudanese population at the United Arab Emirates embassy was canceled on Thursday, with police reportedly citing fears of disturbing the Israel-UAE relationship.
Protest organizer Anwar Suleiman, 46, a refugee from Sudan who has been in Israel since 2008, was informed by Israel Police that their protest was not to take place on Thursday. Suleiman told The Jerusalem Post that the right to protest in a democracy like Israel was important and that this demonstration was calling for accountability.
“For us, it's very important to demonstrate in front of this embassy because this state supports the militia in Sudan. It supports them financially, through weapons, and even through the media,” Suleiman said. “We want to send a message to this state: you are making terrorism in our country, you’re killing our people in our country. We have to stop this.”
Communication between authorities and protest organizers cites the embassy itself for the cancellation.
“The court decided to halt the demonstration at the request of the United Arab Emirates , claiming that the event could harm the development of relations between the UAE and Israel,” a statement shared by Suleiman from a police representative said.
