On 25 August 2008, Adalah sent a letter to Minister of Defense Ehud Barak to demand that he revoke his order to close down the Al-Aqsa Association for the Restoration of Muslim Holy Sites and withdraw his proclamation of the association as an illegal organization. Adalah further demanded that the Al-Aqsa Association be allowed to continue its work and activities. Adalah argued that these steps constitute a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, religion and association to the association’s members and to the Arab minority in Israel in general.

In the letter, Adalah Attorney Orna Kohn argued that Barak’s order is extremely damaging, especially because the Al-Aqsa Association is one of the main Arab charities in Israel. Further, it plays a very important role in collecting and distributing Muslim alms to the needy, as well as in restoring Muslim holy sites, cemeteries and educational institutions. The damage cause is made all the greater by the fact that the order has come shortly before the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, the month during which most alms are gathered and given out.

Attorney Kohn added that Barak’s use of emergency powers is extremely dangerous, particularly because these powers are draconian and strip those damaged of their constitutional right to due process.

The letter (Hebrew)