Call to avoid public decorations and events for Ramadan in Tel Aviv-Jaffa

The International Center for the Study of Political Islam (CSPII) has submitted a request to the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality urging the city to avoid public decorations and events marking the month of Ramadan. The request, sent to the Community and Culture Department, argues that Islamic traditions contain elements that contradict the values of the State of Israel and that the municipality should reconsider publicly funded celebrations.

Key Claims in the Report

The report is based on sources from the Quran and Islamic tradition, which, according to its authors, indicate that Ramadan carries themes that do not align with democratic values.

The main claims include:

Recommendation to Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality

In its letter, CSPII calls on the municipality to reconsider supporting public events related to Ramadan, expressing concerns that such events might promote religious narratives that could be seen as extreme and potentially inconsistent with Israel’s democratic values.

Implications and Reactions

The request has sparked public interest and is expected to fuel a broader discussion on the balance between religious freedom and the nature of public religious celebrations in Israel’s urban spaces. The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality has yet to respond to the request.