This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6225444.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Jerusalem braced for gay parade | Jerusalem braced for gay parade |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A controversial Gay Pride parade is due to march through Jerusalem with an expected 5,000 participants. | |
The event has sparked fierce protests among the holy city's religious communities. | The event has sparked fierce protests among the holy city's religious communities. |
Ultra-Orthodox Jews have protested repeatedly against the march in the past week, burning tyres, confronting police and damaging police cars. | Ultra-Orthodox Jews have protested repeatedly against the march in the past week, burning tyres, confronting police and damaging police cars. |
More than 7,000 police will secure the parade and prevent possible clashes between the two sides. | |
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead to the event, rejecting last-minute appeals by conservative Jews to get the parade cancelled. | On Wednesday, the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead to the event, rejecting last-minute appeals by conservative Jews to get the parade cancelled. |
The event, held in Jerusalem since 2001, has been denounced in the past by conservative Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups which share a view that homosexuality is an abomination. | The event, held in Jerusalem since 2001, has been denounced in the past by conservative Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups which share a view that homosexuality is an abomination. |
But civil liberties groups argue that event celebrates diversity in the holy city. | But civil liberties groups argue that event celebrates diversity in the holy city. |
"The question of 'why in Jerusalem' is not a question. It is the same question as letting women vote," said Dana Olmert, daughter of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, herself a lesbian, in an interview with Israel's Army radio. | "The question of 'why in Jerusalem' is not a question. It is the same question as letting women vote," said Dana Olmert, daughter of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, herself a lesbian, in an interview with Israel's Army radio. |
Last year, the event was relocated to a sports stadium due to security concerns. | Last year, the event was relocated to a sports stadium due to security concerns. |
In 2005, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish protester stabbed and wounded three people despite a heavy police presence at the event. | In 2005, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish protester stabbed and wounded three people despite a heavy police presence at the event. |
Israel's largest annual Gay Pride parade held in the mainly secular city of Tel Aviv passed off peacefully earlier this month. About 20,000 people attended the event. | Israel's largest annual Gay Pride parade held in the mainly secular city of Tel Aviv passed off peacefully earlier this month. About 20,000 people attended the event. |