Muna el-Kurd

Muna el-Kurd
منى الكرد
Muna el-Kurd in 2022
Born (1998-05-15) 15 May 1998 (age 26)
Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem
NationalityPalestinian
Known forPalestinian activism
RelativesMohammed el-Kurd (twin brother)

Muna el-Kurd (Arabic: منى الكرد; born 15 May 1998) is a Palestinian activist based in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem.[1][2] Alongside her twin brother, Mohammed el-Kurd, she drew international attention for her involvement in the Sheikh Jarrah controversy, which served as a key trigger for the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis. She has regularly protested Israel's eviction of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, and gained prominence for her activism on a variety of social media channels.

Early life

El-Kurd was born into a family of Palestinian Muslims in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, Israeli-occupied West Bank on 15 May 1998.[3] From a young age, she and her family experienced threats of eviction from their home by Israeli authorities.[4][5]

In 2009, part of her family's home in Sheikh Jarrah was seized by Israeli settlers.[6][7]

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis

Further information: Sheikh Jarrah controversy and Palestinian displacement in East Jerusalem

In 2021, Muna's family was among 11 other Palestinian families who were threatened with eviction from their home per a decision by an Israeli court (see Sheikh Jarrah controversy).[4][8] They were given 30 days to leave the home, but the family's lawyer filed an appeal with the district court.[9] Tensions between Israeli authorities and Palestinians in East Jerusalem eventually triggered the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.

On 6 June 2021, Muna and her brother Mohammed were arrested by Israeli police;[10][11] they were later released on the same day after being detained for several hours.[12]

During this period, both Muna and Mohammed were named on TIME 100.[13][14]

References

  1. ^ "Israel arrests Palestinian activist Muna el-Kurd in East Jerusalem". BBC News. 2021-06-06. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  2. ^ "Israel releases Sheikh Jarrah activists after hours-long arrests". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  3. ^ "Save Sheikh Jarrah activist Muna El-Kurd arrested in Israeli police raid". SBS News. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  4. ^ a b "Israeli police detain Palestinian activist twins from East Jerusalem". Reuters. 2021-06-06. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  5. ^ "The resilient women of Sheikh Jarrah: 'We will never leave'". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  6. ^ "East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah becomes emblem of Palestinian struggle". Reuters. 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  7. ^ Alfred, Charlotte (January 29, 2016). "Young Palestinian Poet Brings To Life The Troubles Of Jerusalem". HuffPost. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah: The land dispute in the eye of a storm". BBC News. 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  9. ^ Kingsley, Patrick (2021-05-09). "Israeli Court Delays Expulsion of Palestinian Families in East Jerusalem". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  10. ^ "Israel arrests Palestinian activist Muna el-Kurd in East Jerusalem". BBC News. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "Israeli police detain Palestinian activist twins from East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah". BBC News. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  12. ^ "Israel releases Sheikh Jarrah activists after hours-long arrests". Al Jazeera News. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  13. ^ "Sheikh Jarrah's El-Kurd twins make TIME top 100 list". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  14. ^ "Muna and Mohammed El-Kurd: The 100 Most Influential People of 2021". Time. Retrieved 2021-09-16.