JERUSALEM, June 24, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Jerusalem officials cancelled this year’s fourth annual “gay pride” parade Thursday, originally scheduled for June 30, citing the fear that the march would offend Jewish, Muslim and Christian residents of the holy city.
Jerusalem city council decided, “it is not right to allow the march or other planned activities to take place in the streets of Jerusalem, fearing that it will create an uproar, offend a wide sector of city residents and out of fear of public disturbances,” according to a letter sent by City Hall director general Eitan Meir to organizers, as reported by the AP.
Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, the group organizing the parade, appealed the decision to the courts, charging that the decision of the mayor and city council “is injurious to the values of freedom of expression.”
Last month the same Open House group decided to postpone the WorldPride event originally scheduled for Jerusalem in August. The group cited the recent pullout of Israeli troops from Gaza as a reason, but others suspect the sentiments of some Muslim leaders who warned that if homosexuals did not abandon their plans to march in Jerusalem, “their lives will be in danger” as the real reason.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Jerusalem Homosexual “World Pride” Parade Postponed Indefinitely
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/may/05050501.html
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