Nablus cafe closed for week after Halloween party sparks dispute
Governor Ghassan Daghlas ordered the temporary shutdown of Cafe Omsiat and launched an investigation following social media backlash over costumed attendees.
By Ricardo Alvarez ·
Cafe Omsiat in Nablus will remain closed for one week following a dispute over a Halloween-themed event held last week. Nablus Governor Ghassan Daghlas issued the order on November 9 to preserve public peace, according to Palestinian and Arab media reports.
The closure follows the formation of an investigative committee tasked with reviewing the cafe's operations. Photos of partygoers in costumes circulated on social media, prompting activists and prominent Palestinian figures to demand punitive measures against the establishment.
Dr. Ahmad Rafiq Awad, a founding figure in Palestinian radio and television and a member of the Council of Palestinian Culture, published an article on Monday criticizing the event. He described the celebration as "reprehensible" and stated that it ran counter to Palestinian social and cultural values.
Awad argued that Halloween has no connection to Palestinian history or collective consciousness. "We simply do not celebrate ghosts, nor their return, nor play with them, nor even acknowledge or respect them," he said. He added that the occasion is not part of Palestinian life in the slightest.
The council member also criticized the growing presence of other holidays such as Black Friday and Valentine's Day in Palestinian society. He noted that the issue is not the masks or the party itself, but the growing distance between the public and their identity. The Nablus Municipality did not respond to a request for comment.
Daghlas ordered the one-week shutdown to maintain public order while the committee reviews the cafe's practices. The new venue had opened recently, and the controversy centered on the specific date and theme of its initial promotional event.
