On Thursday, January 22, 'Israeli' authorities raided the Yabous Cultural Centre andCinematheque in occupied East Jerusalem and forcibly halted a scheduled screening ofthe film Palestine 36.

During the raid, authorities detained the projectionist, took him in forinterrogation, and posted an official notice prohibiting any future screenings of the film alongwith a wholly false and baseless allegation that Yabous was screening a film promoting workby a terrorist organization an accusation that is both factually incorrect and profoundlyabsurd.

These actions took place in the presence of members of the film team and theaterstaff and constitute a serious violation of artistic freedom and freedom of expression.

This incident comes on the heels of the film’s landmark local release in cinemas, one thathas been met with extraordinary public interest, marking a milestone moment in the country’scinema landscape, with all screenings consistently sold out.

Palestine 36, an officialBritish/French/Palestinian co-production includes support by the BBC, British Film Institute,France’s National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC) and has receivedsignificant international recognition.

The film is set in 1936 during the British Mandate andhas been shortlisted in the Academy Awards International Feature Film category.

Palestine 36 has been nominated for the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards, wonBest Film at the Tokyo International Film Festival, was shortlisted at the European FilmAcademy, and received the Audience Award in São Paulo International Film Festival.

It iscurrently screening in cinemas in France, the United Kingdom, and across the Arab world.

The forced cancellation of a cultural event, the detention of an individual for carrying out atechnical role, and the blanket ban on future screenings represent a serious violation offreedom of expression and artistic freedom.

These actions are intended to intimidate culturalworkers and deter artistic expression more broadly.

Film screenings are a legitimate andpeaceful form of cultural and public discourse, and their suppression raises grave concernsabout censorship and the misuse of authority.

We call on the authorities to immediately cease actions that restrict freedom of expression, toclarify the legal basis for the shutdown and detention, and to ensure that artists, culturalorganizers, and technical staff can carry out their work without fear of harassment orPunishment.