Raida Saeed al-Joulani, 52, a mother of six from the Shuafat refugee camp who grew up in Jerusalem’s Old City, has become one of the most recognizable figures among the Murabitat, women who regularly gather at the Temple Mount compound to maintain a presence, document activities, harass and obstruct Jewish visitors. However, her activities on the ground, combined with a prominent digital presence on social media, brought her into a prolonged confrontation with Israel’s security authorities, law enforcement agencies and judicial system. That confrontation is expected to reach its climax next month when she begins serving an actual prison sentence.
Who Is Raida Saeed al-Joulani, and Why Was She Sentenced to Prison?
Saeed al-Joulani’s confrontations with Israeli security forces began in 2020 and have escalated ever since. Over the years, police and the Shin Bet security agency issued numerous administrative orders barring her from the Temple Mount compound and its surroundings. Despite these orders, she continued appearing at the gates of the compound, particularly near the Chain Gate, known in Arabic as Bab al-Silsila. She documented events daily and posted accounts of Jewish visits to the mount on Facebook. Her posts included incitement and calls for steadfast resistance, known as sumud, against decisions by Israeli authorities, along with praise for the Murabitat. She also urged Palestinians to gather and maintain a presence, known as ribat, at the compound. Her publications attracted widespread attention in Arab and Palestinian media.
In April 2023, Saeed al-Joulani was arrested and indicted at the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court. The charges focused on two main offenses: violating lawful orders by disregarding exclusion orders and refusing to comply with them, and incitement through social media posts encouraging public disturbances and calling for escalation. Her trial continued for an extended period, during which she was released under restrictive conditions, including house arrest, initially full and later partial, which lasted approximately two years. She was also subject to a comprehensive ban on social media interaction and posting.
In late 2025, the Magistrate’s Court sentenced her to one year in prison. Through her defense attorney, Saeed al-Joulani appealed the severity of the sentence to the Jerusalem District Court, resulting in a further postponement of its implementation. However, after reviewing the appeal and rejecting its principal arguments, the court upheld the original decision. Saeed al-Joulani was ordered to surrender to authorities and begin serving her prison sentence on November 12, 2026.
Saeed al-Joulani’s case reflects the determination of Israeli security and law enforcement agencies to curb the Murabitat phenomenon. Beyond physically excluding activists from the Temple Mount, Israeli authorities now regard online incitement and efforts to mobilize supporters through social media as an integral part of attempts to disrupt public order in Jerusalem and at the Temple Mount, offenses that can result in imprisonment.
