Burning Man, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promotes civic responsibility, communal effort, inclusion, and inherent dignity of all people. However, its relationship with the Israeli regional event, Midburn, held in the Negev desert, undermines those values. The Negev desert is a region widely known for significant human rights violations, particularly against Palestinian prisoners/detainees and the indigenous Bedouin communities. We believe that Burning Man, as a global community dedicated to principles such as Radical Inclusion, Civic Responsibility, and Participation, cannot remain silent or complicit in the face of such injustices.

Midburn, an event inspired by Burning Man and held in the Negev Desert, is indirectly linked to the broader context of human rights abuses in the region. The Negev Desert has been a site of systemic discrimination and violence against the indigenous Bedouin people, who have lived in the area for generations. The Israeli government has repeatedly demolished Bedouin villages, displacing families and destroying their homes. These actions violate the basic human rights of the Bedouin community, including their rights to land, housing, and self-determination.

Furthermore, Palestinian prisoners, including those held in the Negev Desert's detention facilities, are subjected to harsh and inhumane treatment. These prisoners often endure prolonged solitary confinement, physical and sexual abuse, and inadequate medical care. The situation has been widely condemned by international human rights organizations, yet the violations continue unabated.

We are imploring the Burning Man organization to cut ties with Midburn to express in practice their alleged respect and honor for indigenous people worldwide. By continuing to associate with Midburn, Burning Man is endorsing the broader apartheid policies that oppress and marginalize Palestinian and Bedouin communities in Israel. These policies of segregation and discrimination are incompatible with Burning Man's values of inclusion and respect for human dignity.

Expressing solidarity by severing ties with Midburn can send a clear message that human rights violations and apartheid policies will not be tolerated or silently endorsed, no matter where they occur.

We urge the Burning Man Project to:

• Publicly acknowledge the ongoing human rights violations in the Negev Desert, particularly those affecting the indigenous Bedouin people and Palestinians.
• Sever ties with Midburn until significant and verifiable changes are made in the treatment of these vulnerable communities in the region.
• Engage in dialogue with human rights organizations and activists who are working to protect the rights of the Bedouin and Palestinian communities in the Negev Desert.
• Encourage the global Burning Man community to stand in solidarity with these communities by raising awareness and advocating for justice and human rights in the region.

Burning Man has always been a space for radical self-expression, community, and transformation. It is time for the community to take a stand for those who are suffering and to use our collective voice to demand change.

Please sign this petition to urge Burning Man to uphold its stated principles of respect and inclusion by severing ties with Midburn. 

HUMAN RIGHTS SHOULD ALWAYS TRIUMPH OVER FESTIVITIES.

Read More:

UN report: Palestinian detainees held arbitrarily and secretly, subjected to torture and mistreatment​

UNRWA report: Detention and alleged ill-treatment of detainees from Gaza during Israel-Hamas War ​

May 2024 Amnesty International Reports on Human Rights Violations against Bedouins in Negev​

World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Israel : Bedouin​

Human Rights Watch Report - Displacement of Bedouins