Jun 23, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Jerusalem officials have decided to ban the fourth annual gay pride parade, organized for June 30, claiming the march would offend the majority of the city's practicing Jewish, Muslim and Christian residents, reported NewsMax.com. The decision was announced yesterday.
Parade organizers, the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, appealed to Israel's Supreme Court, saying the decision was a violation of freedom of expression.
The city council’s decision was communicated to organizers in a letter. It read: "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.”
The three previous parades were reportedle attended by several thousand people, with only minor incidents of vandalism and protest.