Sur Baher - Municipality forces the Amira family to self-demolish their homes
On Saturday evening, the Amira family self-demolished their two homes in the village of Sur Baher, south of Jerusalem, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Mohammad Amira explained to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem that the family was forced to self-demolish his home and the home of his brother Mustafa to avoid paying new fines and costs, known as "demolition fees," to municipal crews and accompanying forces.
Amira said that the building was a renovation of the family's old home five years ago, and the total area is 70 square meters. The family was fined for "unlicensed construction."
Amira added that two days before Ramadan, the municipality issued the final demolition order, giving them four weeks to implement the order. However, several days ago, they received a call demanding that they carry out the demolition immediately.
Amira said that the family had requested that the demolition be postponed until the end of Ramadan and the Eid holidays, but the municipality refused.
Four people live in the two homes.
Jerusalemites are forced to self-demolish their own structures to avoid paying fines or being sentenced to actual imprisonment. Jerusalemites said the municipality claims that demolitions in Jerusalem are due to unlicensed construction, while imposing "unreasonable" procedures and requirements that extend for years, in addition to exorbitant costs. In most cases, permits are denied.
During the month of Ramadan, the occupation municipality carried out various demolitions in Jerusalem and forced Jerusalemites to self-demolish their homes in recent days, despite a halt to demolitions during Ramadan in the past.
