DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi released on bail by Palestinian Authority

Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi was released on bail, according to the organizers of a petition that gathered more than 100,000 signatures demanding her release.

Sama’ was released “on the basis of a cash bond of 500 Jordanian Dinar bail and 2000 Jordanian Dinars bail bond,” according to the site, with a restriction on travel outside Palestine. The Times of Israel adds she will “have to show up at a PA police station once a week,” citing Hebrew-language media reports.

Palestine’s most prominent techno DJ, Sama’ Abdulhadi was arrested on December 27 and detained for 8 days after an event filmed near the Nabi Musa shrine outside the city of Jericho. According to Muslims, the shrine is built upon the resting site of the prophet Moses. Clips from the event on social media provoked outrage from what onlookers described as a “mob” from around Palestine that quickly arrived at Nabi Musa to forcibly shut down the event.

Sama’ has not been formally indicted yet but will face two years in jail if she is convicted. The event and its aftermath has caused a scandal in Palestine.

The update on Sama’s case also reveals more details about the event itself. The party was a “private event created for a pre-recorded performance series titled ‘The Residency’ for leading music platform Beatport,” it says. The event itself took place “in the courtyard of a hostel on the property of the Nabi Musa historical, tourist and cultural site,” which is “regularly available for hire and many non-electronic musical events have happened there.”

Sama’ is being investigated on charges of desecrating a holy site and religious symbols. Further charges of “violating COVID-19 emergency measures” were added to the investigation after the initial arrest and international response on her behalf.

As part of the same update, Sama’ says in a statement that “I am safe and well and would like to thank everybody who has spoken out in support of my situation and called for my immediate release. I am overwhelmed by the support from my fellow musicians, artists, activists and the entire music community. I want to thank anybody and everybody who has made me feel so supported. At this moment, I just want to spend time with my family.”