# Mohammed el-Kurd

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Palestinian activist and writer

Mohammed el-Kurd محمد الكرد Born (1998-05-15) 15 May 1998 (age 28) Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, Israeli-occupied West Bank Alma mater Savannah College of Art and Design Brooklyn College Occupations Writer poet journalist Known for Palestinian activism Notable work Rifqa (2021) Perfect Victims and the Politics of Appeal (2025) Relatives Muna el-Kurd (twin sister) Website www.mohammedelkurd.com

**Mohammed el-Kurd** ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): محمد الكرد; born 15 May 1998) is a [Palestinian](/source/Palestinians) writer, poet, and journalist who gained prominence for his descriptions of Palestinians' lives under occupation in [East Jerusalem](/source/East_Jerusalem) and the rest of the [West Bank](/source/West_Bank).[1] El-Kurd has referred to evictions as a form of [ethnic cleansing](/source/Ethnic_cleansing),[2] and has also accused [Israel of imposing apartheid-style](/source/Israel_and_apartheid) laws and regulations on Palestinians in the occupied territories.[3][4][5]

## Biography

### Early life

El-Kurd was born on 15 May 1998 into a [Palestinian Muslim](/source/Islam_in_Palestine) family in [Sheikh Jarrah](/source/Sheikh_Jarrah), [East Jerusalem](/source/East_Jerusalem), in the [Israeli-occupied](/source/Israeli-occupied_territories) [West Bank](/source/West_Bank).[6] In 2009, when he was 11, part of his family's home in Sheikh Jarrah was taken over by [Israeli settlers](/source/Israeli_settlement).[6][7] The episode was the subject of the 2013 documentary film *My Neighbourhood*, directed by [Julia Bacha](/source/Julia_Bacha) and [Rebekah Wingert-Jabi](/source/Rebekah_Wingert-Jabi).[8]

El-Kurd wrote poetry as a teenager, sometimes in both Arabic and English, and performed in Sheikh Jarrah and elsewhere in Jerusalem.[6] In 2018, while studying writing at the [Savannah College of Art and Design](/source/Savannah_College_of_Art_and_Design) in [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta), he released *Radical Blankets*, which *[Mondoweiss](/source/Mondoweiss)* described as a poetry and multimedia magazine.[9] In 2021, while pursuing graduate study at [Brooklyn College](/source/Brooklyn_College) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City), he returned to East Jerusalem to protest [Israel's eviction of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem](/source/Palestinian_displacement_in_East_Jerusalem), including in Sheikh Jarrah.[10][11]

### Return to East Jerusalem (2021)

Further information: [Sheikh Jarrah controversy](/source/Sheikh_Jarrah_controversy) and [Palestinian displacement in East Jerusalem](/source/Palestinian_displacement_in_East_Jerusalem)

Since his return to the [Israeli-occupied West Bank](/source/Israeli_occupation_of_the_West_Bank) during the [Sheikh Jarrah controversy](/source/Sheikh_Jarrah_controversy), El-Kurd has documented and spoken against [Palestinian displacement in East Jerusalem](/source/Palestinian_displacement_in_East_Jerusalem).[10][12][13] He and his twin sister, [Muna el-Kurd](/source/Muna_el-Kurd), used social media to draw attention to Israeli policies in East Jerusalem.[14][15] A 2021 article in *Tripodos* said Muna's posts were usually in Arabic, while Mohammed often posted in English for a Western audience.[15]

On 6 June 2021, Mohammed and Muna were both detained by [Israel Police](/source/Israel_Police);[16][17] they were released later that same day after being held for several hours.[18] During the [2021 Israel–Palestine crisis](/source/2021_Israel%E2%80%93Palestine_crisis), Mohammed appeared on American television channels including [CNN](/source/CNN), [MSNBC](/source/MSNBC), and [CBSN](/source/CBS_News_(streaming_service)).[15]

In 2021, Mohammed and Muna were named to the [*Time* 100](/source/Time_100) list of the world's most influential people.[19][20]

## Education

El-Kurd earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the [Savannah College of Art and Design](/source/Savannah_College_of_Art_and_Design) and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from [Brooklyn College](/source/Brooklyn_College).[21]

### Influences

El-Kurd has cited [Aimé Césaire](/source/Aim%C3%A9_C%C3%A9saire), [Frantz Fanon](/source/Frantz_Fanon), [Rashid Hussein](/source/Rashid_Hussein), [Amal Dunqul](/source/Amal_Dunqul), and [Suheir Hammad](/source/Suheir_Hammad) among writers who have influenced him and whom he admires.[22]

## Career

In addition to his work in poetry and creative nonfiction, El-Kurd has worked as a journalist and editor. He is *[The Nation](/source/The_Nation)*'s first Palestine correspondent.[23] In 2023, *[Mondoweiss](/source/Mondoweiss)* announced that he had joined its staff as culture editor; the publication later listed him as editor-at-large on its masthead.[24][25]

### Writing and spoken-word

His debut poetry collection, *[Rifqa](/source/Rifqa_(book))*, was published by [Haymarket Books](/source/Haymarket_Books) in 2021.[26] Reviews and critical essays have described *Rifqa* as concerned with family memory, dispossession, occupation, resistance, and humor.[27][28][29]

In 2019, El-Kurd and oud musician [Clarissa Bitar](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clarissa_Bitar&action=edit&redlink=1) released the spoken-word album *Bellydancing on Wounds* through Rosewater Records.[30] His nonfiction book *[Perfect Victims: And the Politics of Appeal](/source/Perfect_Victims_and_the_Politics_of_Appeal)* was published by Haymarket Books in 2025.[31] Reviews described the book as examining dehumanization and the expectation that Palestinians appeal to outside audiences to prove their humanity.[32][33]

## Views

### Israel–Palestine conflict generally

Pro-Palestinian protester in San Francisco quoting el-Kurd

El-Kurd is noted for "unapologetically" speaking out against Israeli oppression of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, both about the specific, immediate threat to, and constant stress for families like his of eviction, but also all forms of oppression.[34]

El-Kurd blames the "Zionist project" – and multinational political, diplomatic, and economic support for it – for the displacement, subjugation, and statelessness of the Palestinian people,[34] sometimes mentioning the Palestinians displaced from their homes during the [Nakba](/source/Nakba) that started in December 1947, a count he places at 750,000, stating that Zionist militia massacred them and forcibly removed them.[35]

### Israel–Gaza War

El-Kurd has stated that characterizing the "[Israel–Hamas war](/source/Gaza_war)" by that name does not accurately reflect what is happening on the ground because it ignores the antecedents (before October 7, 2023) of the current conflict, such a:[35]

- the 16-year Israeli and Egyptian land, air, and water [Blockade of the Gaza Strip](/source/Blockade_of_the_Gaza_Strip) (which El-Kurd calls *besieged*)

- Israeli control of "every aspect of life in the Gaza Strip", including pharmaceuticals, food, water, travel, and freedom of movement

El-Kurd has spoken of racist remarks by Israeli officials, such as [Itamar Ben-Gvir](/source/Itamar_Ben-Gvir), or remarks he characterizes as "genocidal". El-Kurd states that paying attention to such remarks is "the very answer to everything" in understanding the Gaza situation in 2023–4.[35]

### Devaluation of Palestinian lives

#### Condescending attitudes in Western media and discourse

El-Kurd has said that [suicide bombings](/source/Suicide_bombings), [plane hijackings](/source/Aircraft_hijacking) and the [October 7 attacks](/source/October_7_attacks) have received so much attention because the victims, who are Europeans, Israelis, and Americans, are "seen as people". He has said that, in contrast, the Western media regards Palestinian deaths as "quotidian" and "business as usual". El-Kurd said that Palestinians who speak out about their experience as "victims of Zionism" are called antisemitic or hateful, or "at best ... angry, passionate and driven by emotion".[35]

#### Occupation structures that devalue Palestinians' lives

El-Kurd has stated that for Palestinians, "every corner" of life is filled with challenges and obstacles. He maintains that Israeli state structures are designed to oppress Palestinians, to make them want to leave, or to force them to leave.[34]

El-Kurd notes that occupation does not only mean that Palestinians carry a different-colored ID, that their freedom of movement is restricted, and that their land is constantly at risk of theft, but also that they "live a life that is devalued every few years", as he describes it.[35]

#### Persistence of Western colonialism

El-Kurd characterizes some tools of the Israeli state as techniques of colonization, such as isolating Palestinian villages by declaring the land around them to be national parks. He maintains that Israel continues to actively colonize Palestine and that there are still many regimes around the world propagating colonialism, adapting to an increasingly progressive world by making itself less obvious than what he calls the explicit colonization that Israel carries out.[34]

### Shifting the attitude of Palestinians

#### Palestinian realization of self-worth

El-Kurd speaks of a Palestinian reality in East Jerusalem where oppression (evictions, demolitions) is hierarchical and normalized, muzzling and gaslighting Palestinian residents. He personally has questioned whether he would have the energy to fight back against oppression, as is characteristic of Palestinians, sometimes being "exhausted" from lifelong oppression. Breaking through and deciding to fight back, he described, was a moment of understanding the psychological warfare as a turning point to the realization that he was worthy (of housing, in this case) at the most basic level.[34]

He describes a Palestinian realization of worth – despite burnout and exhaustion continuing to be realities – regarding the right to five things:[34]

- worthy of housing

- worthy of dignity

- worthy to be able to rebel

- worthy to be able to advocate

- worthy of liberation

#### Palestinian unity against the Occupation

In 2021, El-Kurd stated that much of the Zionist project has involved:[34]

- Dismantling and fragmenting Palestinian unity

- Overthrowing the fabric of Palestinian societies

- Creating disparate realities between Palestinians living in Israel proper (Israeli Arabs), East Jerusalem, the West Bank east of the Separation Barrier, and in the Gaza Strip.

He concluded that the collective protests against expulsion in his home neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah showed unprecedented unity among the different groups, overcoming the delusions that separation had created.[34]

### Activism unconstrained by perceived respectability

El-Kurd argues that activists should move beyond messages that are generally perceived as respectable in Western society and media, to deliver fully truthful messages about Palestine-Israel and other conflicts. Respectability, he states, is dressing a certain way, expressing healing a certain way, speaking only on certain topics with "respectable" vocabulary and qualifiers. Disregarding respectability manifests itself in various ways, including:[36]

- **Topics**: Activists should advocate for sanctions against Israel, and call out Israeli expansion and Zionism, which he calls a racist ideology.

- **Vocabulary**: mainstream Western news outlets camouflage the intensity of violence that Israeli forces inflict on Palestinians, e.g., using the phrase “forced eviction” instead of “ethnic cleansing.”

- **"Flattening" humanization**: those who empathize with Palestinians and humanize them may inadvertently "flatten" Palestinians' reality, i.e., fail to encapsulate the entire scope of Palestinians' humanity, by, for example, portraying them as helpless victims. El-Kurd is known for his willingness to tell the blunt reality of Palestinian existence in its full spectrum, including disdain, rage, hatred, joy, revolution, and fear, and encourages pro-Palestinian activists to do the same.

### Shifting the narrative in global media

El-Kurd has stated that the first step in achieving reparations of changing realities on the ground is to get people to understand "the correct" narrative and "on the right side of history", a grassroots narrative from Palestinian "street culture", not a narrative coöpted by Palestinians who are the elite or who have ties to U.S., Israeli institutions or the Palestinian Authority, which he says is corrupt and a "co-pilot of the Israeli occupation".[34]

El-Kurd challenges Western media that regularly ask Palestinian guests to denounce violent protests or attacks by Hamas and other groups, characterizing these questions as inciting, bigoted and disrespectful. To one such question from a CNN anchor, El-Kurd responded: "Do you support the violent dispossession of me and my family?" He said that the incident was an example that Palestinians will no longer accept "racism and misrepresentation" on Western television, and that, like him, they "really don't take shit" any longer.[34]

## Accusations of antisemitism

### Poem with metaphor "harvest[ing] organs of the martyred"

A poem titled "Rifqa",[37] in the eponymous 2021 book, contains a line in which "they" (i.e., Israelis) "harvest organs of the martyred, [and] feed their warriors our own."[38] The poem contains a footnote referring the reader to the [2009 Aftonbladet Israel controversy](/source/2009_Aftonbladet_Israel_controversy) about Israeli doctors allegedly harvesting organs from Palestinian and some Israeli corpses without the permission of their families. El-Kurd said, "It's a metaphor, it's not something I literally believe. I'm just now realizing that they actually think, or are pretending to think for purposes of exaggeration, that I actually believe Israelis eat Palestinian organs.... At first it was comical, but now it seems very sinister. The line is about the practice of withholding Palestinian bodies and [...] exploiting the bodies in ways that have been documented and are widely discussed."[39] He spoke at a [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University) event titled "Confronting State Violence" in October 2022 at which he told of his experience with "violence that is systematically, institutionally sponsored". More than 30 people protested his attendance by showing Israel’s flag and waving posters.[40] The [Anti-Defamation League](/source/Anti-Defamation_League) called for [Georgetown Law School](/source/Georgetown_Law_School) to cancel an invitation for him to speak at the university in 2022.[41]

### London speech mentioning de-Zionization and massacres

El-Kurd's speech on 14 January 2024 at the [Palestine Solidarity Campaign](/source/Palestine_Solidarity_Campaign) "March for Palestine" demonstration in London was widely criticized as [antisemitic](/source/Antisemitism) for its mention of de-zionization as well as the mention of "massacres as the status quo",[42] with British MP [Robert Jenrick](/source/Robert_Jenrick) calling for the arresting and deporting of individuals who make such remarks.[42]

El-Kurd stated: "Zionism is apartheid, it's genocide, it's murder. It's a racist ideology, rooted in settler expansion and racist domination. We must root it out of the world. We must de-Zionize because Zionism is a death cult".[42] He described [Hamas](/source/Hamas) militants killed by Israel as "[martyrs](/source/Martyrdom_in_Palestinian_society)", which could potentially violate UK and Israeli laws.[42]

Concluding the speech, El-Kurd stated "Our day will come, but we must not be complacent. Our day will come but we must normalize massacres as the status-quo",[42] which some interpreted as a reference to the [2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel](/source/2023_Hamas-led_attack_on_Israel) in which 1,200 people were killed.[42] At first, the activist responded to reports of the controversy by stating "Lots of ppl reporting this speech to the police. Idgaf. Zionism is indefensible".[43] However, El-Kurd, whose native language is [Arabic](/source/Palestinian_Arabic), later clarified multiple times on [X](/source/X_(social_network)) that he had misspoken, by forgetting to negate the verb in the sentence:[44][45]

It is clear from the context of my speech on 13 January 2024 that I denounce massacres, murder, and genocide and that the closing of my speech was to state "we should NOT normalise massacres." I was also clearly referring to the massacres perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people. I reject the bad faith attempts to slander me as someone who would encourage or promote unlawful violence. I don't want to waste more time on this matter, because we all should be focusing on the horrors in Gaza

He further stated that he was "obviously not an idiot" and "would never" call for violence.[46]

London's [Metropolitan Police](/source/Metropolitan_Police) launched a formal investigation.[42][43] El-Kurd later said on social media that the police had interviewed him and then dropped the case.[47]

## Works

- El-Kurd, Mohammed (2021). *[Rifqa](/source/Rifqa_(book))*. [Haymarket Books](/source/Haymarket_Books). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781642595864](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781642595864).

- Foreword to Aranguren, Teresa, and Sandra Barrilaro, eds. (2024). *Against Erasure: A Photographic Memory of Palestine Before the Nakba*. [Haymarket Books](/source/Haymarket_Books). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781642599800](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781642599800).

- El-Kurd, Mohammed (2025). *[Perfect Victims: And the Politics of Appeal](/source/Perfect_Victims_and_the_Politics_of_Appeal)*. [Haymarket Books](/source/Haymarket_Books). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9798888903155](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9798888903155).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Mohammed El-Kurd"](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/mohammed-el-kurd). *[Poetry Foundation](/source/Poetry_Foundation)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Poet Mohammed El-Kurd Detained in Sheikh Jarrah After Condemning Israeli Apartheid on U.S. TV"](https://www.democracynow.org/2021/5/13/mohammed_el_kurd_sheikh_jarrah_jerusalem). *[Democracy Now!](/source/Democracy_Now!)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210531113702/https://www.democracynow.org/2021/5/13/mohammed_el_kurd_sheikh_jarrah_jerusalem) from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hatuqa, Dalia (15 May 2021). ["Settlement Push in East Jerusalem Neighborhood Shows Israeli 'Apartheid'"](https://theintercept.com/2021/05/15/israel-apartheid-palestine-jerusalem/). *[The Intercept](/source/The_Intercept)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210529103555/https://theintercept.com/2021/05/15/israel-apartheid-palestine-jerusalem/) from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["It's not a 'conflict': how to talk about Palestine"](https://www.dazeddigital.com/politics/article/52785/1/it-is-not-a-conflict-how-to-talk-about-palestine-israel). *[Dazed](/source/Dazed)*. 14 May 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210601150733/https://www.dazeddigital.com/politics/article/52785/1/it-is-not-a-conflict-how-to-talk-about-palestine-israel) from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Oxford.Union.Debate_5-0)** [*Mohammed El-Kurd, This House Believes Israel is an Apartheid State Responsible for Genocide, Part 1/8*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j86_ELmr0XA), 5 December 2024, a debate at [The Oxford Union, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j86_ELmr0XA). [Part 2/8, Jonathan Sacerdoti](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKdJE72j4fk), [Part 3/8, Ebrahim Osman Mowafy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDWiWLya3Mg), [Part 4/8, Yoseph Haddad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ62bhMFQ1Y), [Part 5/8, Miko Peled](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ9JP1dOncg), [Part 6/8, Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Efkrrz5q0), [Part 7/8, Susan Abulhawa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZCWCGebAuU), [Part 8/8, Natasha Hausdorff](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rZS4tD_BWY).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HuffPost2016_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HuffPost2016_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-HuffPost2016_6-2) Alfred, Charlotte (29 January 2016). ["Young Palestinian Poet Brings To Life The Troubles Of Jerusalem"](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mohammed-al-kurd-teen-poet-jerusalem_n_569fca10e4b0875553c297aa). *[HuffPost](/source/HuffPost)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210531023800/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mohammed-al-kurd-teen-poet-jerusalem_n_569fca10e4b0875553c297aa) from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Nation2021_7-0)** Erakat, Noura (4 November 2021). ["I Would Like to See 'The New York Times' Wash the Blood Off Its Hands"](https://www.thenation.com/article/world/qa-mohammed-el-kurd/). *[The Nation](/source/The_Nation)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Wingert-Jabi, Rebekah; Bacha, Julia; Smith, Emily (17 March 2013). ["My Neighbourhood: a Palestinian boy's view of Israeli settlements – video"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/mar/17/my-neighbourhood-palestinian-israeli-video). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210531021344/https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/mar/17/my-neighbourhood-palestinian-israeli-video) from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Mondoweiss2018_9-0)** Ashly, Jaclynn (11 April 2018). ["'I use my writing to speak up'–young Palestinian poet talks love and resistance"](https://mondoweiss.net/2018/04/writing-palestinian-resistance/). *[Mondoweiss](/source/Mondoweiss)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Vice2021_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Vice2021_10-1) Papadopulos, Barnaby (12 May 2021). ["This Palestinian Writer Is Going Viral for Challenging US Coverage of Israel-Palestine"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/mohammed-el-kurd-cnn-interview-sheikh-jarrah/). *[Vice](/source/Vice_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210531033706/https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3dvdb/mohammed-el-kurd-cnn-interview-sheikh-jarrah) from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-PoetryFoundation_11-0)** ["Mohammed El-Kurd"](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/mohammed-el-kurd). *[Poetry Foundation](/source/Poetry_Foundation)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["'We're not leaving our rightful homes': Mohammed el-Kurd speaks to MEE on Sheikh Jarrah"](http://www.middleeasteye.net/video/were-not-leaving-our-rightful-homes-mohammed-el-kurd-speaks-mee-sheikh-jarrah). *[Middle East Eye](/source/Middle_East_Eye)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210606150820/https://www.middleeasteye.net/video/were-not-leaving-our-rightful-homes-mohammed-el-kurd-speaks-mee-sheikh-jarrah) from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Palestinian poet and writer Mohammed El-Kurd on being forced out of his Sheikh Jarrah home by Israeli forces"](https://www.msnbc.com/gibson-reiser/watch/lindsey-reiser-talks-to-mohammed-el-kurd-112012869512). *[MSNBC](/source/MSNBC)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210526034103/https://www.msnbc.com/gibson-reiser/watch/lindsey-reiser-talks-to-mohammed-el-kurd-112012869512) from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["How East Jerusalem flashpoint Sheikh Jarrah got its own hashtag"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210517191207/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/how-east-jerusalem-flashpoint-sheikh-jarrah-got-its-own-hashtag/46624826). *[Swissinfo](/source/Swissinfo)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/how-east-jerusalem-flashpoint-sheikh-jarrah-got-its-own-hashtag/46624826) on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Tripodos_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Tripodos_15-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Tripodos_15-2) Saba, Claudia (2021). ["Mainstreaming Anti-colonial Discourse on Palestine: Mohammed El-Kurd's Discursive Interventions"](http://www.tripodos.com/index.php/Facultat_Comunicacio_Blanquerna/article/view/950). *Tripodos* (51): 49–67. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.51698/tripodos.2021.51p49-67](https://doi.org/10.51698%2Ftripodos.2021.51p49-67). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2340-5007](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2340-5007). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [246367115](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:246367115). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220128132024/http://www.tripodos.com/index.php/Facultat_Comunicacio_Blanquerna/article/view/950) from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Israel arrests Palestinian activist Muna el-Kurd in East Jerusalem"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57376550). *[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)*. 6 June 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210607090408/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57376550) from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Israeli police detain Palestinian activist twins from East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah"](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/israeli-police-detain-palestinian-activist-twins-from-east-jerusalems-sheikh-jarrah-7346877/). *[The Indian Express](/source/The_Indian_Express)*. [Reuters](/source/Reuters). 6 June 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210607055820/https://indianexpress.com/article/world/israeli-police-detain-palestinian-activist-twins-from-east-jerusalems-sheikh-jarrah-7346877/) from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Israel releases Sheikh Jarrah activists after hours-long arrests"](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/6/israeli-police-arrest-sheikh-jarrah-activist-muna-al-kurd). *[Al Jazeera News](/source/Al_Jazeera_English)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210607105611/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/6/israeli-police-arrest-sheikh-jarrah-activist-muna-al-kurd) from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Sheikh Jarrah's El-Kurd twins make *TIME* top 100 list"](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/15/sheikh-jarrah-el-kurd-twins-on-time-100-most-influential-list). *[Al Jazeera](/source/Al_Jazeera_English)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210917133743/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/15/sheikh-jarrah-el-kurd-twins-on-time-100-most-influential-list) from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Muna and Mohammed El-Kurd: The 100 Most Influential People of 2021"](https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6096098/muna-mohammed-el-kurd/). *[Time](/source/Time_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210917063555/https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6096098/muna-mohammed-el-kurd/) from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Mohammed El-Kurd"](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/mohammed-el-kurd). *[Poetry Foundation](/source/Poetry_Foundation)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Haymarket Books (11 February 2025). [*Perfect Victims: Mohammed El-Kurd & Robin D.G. Kelley*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXcqfLsraJI). Retrieved 24 March 2026 – via YouTube.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Mohammed El-Kurd"](https://www.thenation.com/authors/mohammed-el-kurd/). *[The Nation](/source/The_Nation)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Mohammed El-Kurd and Raeda Taha on Palestinian identity, martyrdom, and revolutionary honesty"](https://mondoweiss.net/2023/09/mohammed-el-kurd-and-raeda-taha-on-palestinian-identity-martyrdom-and-revolutionary-honesty/). *[Mondoweiss](/source/Mondoweiss)*. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["About Mondoweiss"](https://mondoweiss.net/about-mondoweiss/). *[Mondoweiss](/source/Mondoweiss)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Rifqa"](https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1744-rifqa). *[Haymarket Books](/source/Haymarket_Books)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Farah, Summer (6 August 2021). [""I Write an Attempt": On Mohammed El-Kurd's "Rifqa""](https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/i-write-an-attempt-on-mohammed-el-kurds-rifqa/). *[Los Angeles Review of Books](/source/Los_Angeles_Review_of_Books)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Bajwa, Nameera. ["On Rifqa by Mohammed el-Kurd"](https://www.poetryproject.org/publications/newsletter/275-winter-2024/on-rifqa-by-mohammed-el-kurd). *[The Poetry Project](/source/The_Poetry_Project)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** Radfar, India Hixon (15 October 2021). ["Poetry: Mohammed El-Kurd's Rifqa Reviewed"](https://themarkaz.org/poetry-mohammed-el-kurds-rifqa-reviewed/). *[The Markaz Review](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Markaz_Review&action=edit&redlink=1)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Winston, Joshua (4 April 2019). ["Record Review: Mohammed El-Kurd & Clarissa Bitar"](https://creativeloafing.com/content-424947-record-review-mohammed-el-kurd-clarissa). *[Creative Loafing](/source/Creative_Loafing)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["Perfect Victims"](https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2499-perfect-victims). *[Haymarket Books](/source/Haymarket_Books)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** Farah, Summer (21 February 2025). ["Review: Perfect Victims: And the Politics of Appeal by Mohammed El-Kurd"](https://mizna.org/mizna-online/review-perfect-victims/). *[Mizna](/source/Mizna)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** Jahshan, Elias (26 February 2025). ["'Dignify our dead, our living, our occupied': The exploitation of Palestinian suffering amid Western and Zionist narratives in Mohammed El-Kurd's Perfect Victims"](https://www.newarab.com/features/mohammed-el-kurds-perfect-victims-and-politics-appeal). *[The New Arab](/source/The_New_Arab)*. Retrieved 26 April 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-jac2021_34-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-jac2021_34-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-jac2021_34-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-jac2021_34-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-jac2021_34-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-jac2021_34-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-jac2021_34-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-jac2021_34-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-jac2021_34-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-jac2021_34-9) ["Mohammed el-Kurd's Unabashed Fury Against Israeli Apartheid"](https://jacobin.com/2021/11/israel-palestine-occupation-settlements-sheikh-jarrah). *jacobin.com*. 11 September 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240122221739/https://jacobin.com/2021/11/israel-palestine-occupation-settlements-sheikh-jarrah) from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-jac2024_35-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-jac2024_35-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-jac2024_35-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-jac2024_35-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-jac2024_35-4) Denvir, Daniel (10 January 2024). ["Mohammed el-Kurd: We Must Be Willing to Sacrifice to End Israel's War"](https://jacobin.com/2024/01/mohammed-el-kurd-israel-hamas-gaza-occupation). *jacobin.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240122221738/https://jacobin.com/2024/01/mohammed-el-kurd-israel-hamas-gaza-occupation) from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** Axtman, Kristen (1 May 2023). ["Mohammed El-Kurd discusses respectability politics"](https://dailynorthwestern.com/2023/05/01/campus/mohammed-el-kurd-discusses-respectability-politics-during-arab-american-heritage-month/). *The Daily Northwestern*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240124004526/https://dailynorthwestern.com/2023/05/01/campus/mohammed-el-kurd-discusses-respectability-politics-during-arab-american-heritage-month/) from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** Mohammed, El-Kurd (2021). [*Rifqa*](https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1744-rifqa). Haymarket. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1642596601](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1642596601). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240112214240/https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1744-rifqa) from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-convo_38-0)** Muller, Denis (17 February 2023). ["Are calls to cancel two Palestinian writers from Adelaide Writers' Week justified?"](https://theconversation.com/are-calls-to-cancel-two-palestinian-writers-from-adelaide-writers-week-justified-200165). *The Conversation*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231013001056/https://theconversation.com/are-calls-to-cancel-two-palestinian-writers-from-adelaide-writers-week-justified-200165) from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-39)** Hussain, Murtaza (29 April 2022). ["Palestinian Poem Sets Off Antisemitism Fight at Georgetown"](https://theintercept.com/2022/04/29/palestine-poem-antisemitism-adl-mohammed-el-kurd/). *The Intercept*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231010155104/https://theintercept.com/2022/04/29/palestine-poem-antisemitism-adl-mohammed-el-kurd/) from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-40)** Lu, Vivi; Teichholtz, Leah (25 October 2022). ["Student Groups Host Event with Palestinian Activist Mohammed El-Kurd, Drawing Protest from Pro-Israel Students"](https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/10/25/psc-speaker-protest/). *Harvard Crimson*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231013001057/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/10/25/psc-speaker-protest/) from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** Hussain, Murtaza (29 April 2022). ["Palestinian Poem Sets Off Antisemitism Fight at Georgetown"](https://theintercept.com/2022/04/29/palestine-poem-antisemitism-adl-mohammed-el-kurd/). *The Intercept*. Retrieved 16 April 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_42-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_42-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_42-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:2_42-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:2_42-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:2_42-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:2_42-6) ["Met investigating El-Kurd over 'normalize the massacres' remarks"](https://www.jns.org/met-investigating-el-kurd-over-normalize-the-massacres-remarks/). *[JNS](/source/Jewish_News_Syndicate)*. 15 January 2024. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240117235957/https://www.jns.org/met-investigating-el-kurd-over-normalize-the-massacres-remarks/) from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Police_43-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Police_43-1) Kelly, Kieran (14 January 2024). ["Police 'looking into' video of activist telling pro-Palestine crowd in London 'massacres should become status quo'"](https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/met-police-assessing-man-speech-massacres-status-quo/). *LBC*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240124052842/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/met-police-assessing-man-speech-massacres-status-quo/) from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-44)** ["Post by Mohammed El-Kurd"](https://x.com/m7mdkurd/status/1746310077131202607?s=20). *X (formerly Twitter)*. Retrieved 21 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-45)** El-Kurd, Mohammed (14 January 2023). ["Tweet from Mohammed El-Kurd (@m7mdkurd), X (formerly Twitter)"](https://twitter.com/m7mdkurd/status/1746565322927169919). *X (formerly Twitter)*. X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 21 January 2024. It is clear from the context of my speech on 13 January 2024 that I denounce massacres, murder, and genocide and that the closing of my speech was to state "we should NOT normalise massacres." I was also clearly referring to the massacres perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people. I reject the bad faith attempts to slander me as someone who would encourage or promote unlawful violence. I don't want to waste more time on this matter, because we all should be focusing on the horrors in Gaza.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-46)** Sorace, Stephen (14 January 2024). ["London police respond after speaker at pro-Palestinian event calls to 'normalize massacres'"](https://www.foxnews.com/world/london-police-respond-speaker-pro-palestinian-event-calls-normalize-massacres). *Fox News*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240119012457/https://www.foxnews.com/world/london-police-respond-speaker-pro-palestinian-event-calls-normalize-massacres) from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-47)** El-Kurd, Mohammed (21 January 2024). ["Post by Mohammed El-Kurd"](https://twitter.com/m7mdkurd/status/1749088737533821215?t=_Kg7k-iqHJXucCKL1roHZA&s=19). *X (formerly Twitter)*. X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 25 January 2024. I was investigated by Britain's counterterrorism police, which succumbed to political pressure from top Israeli propagandists, diplomats, lobby-affiliated British government officials, and countless right-wing media outlets, who demanded I be arrested and charged over a recent anti-zionist speech I gave in London. The interrogation, which I attended with counsel, proved to be a great waste of time and public funds, and the police promptly closed the case and pursued no further action. If anything, it was a mere inconvenience.

[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [Biography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography)
- [Palestine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Palestine)
- [Poetry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Poetry)

Authority control databases International VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Norway Israel Other Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mohammed el-Kurd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_el-Kurd) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_el-Kurd?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.