Al-Azhar, Arab Parliament Denounce Israeli Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque
In a statement, Al-Azhar said the move has deprive Palestinians of performing their prayers during the blessed days, describing it as a crime that provokes the feelings of Muslims worldwide and constitutes a blatant violation of international law prohibiting attacks on places of worship.
Al-Azhar stated that these measures reflect the occupier’s attempts to erase the Islamic identity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy city of al-Quds, and to undermine the joy of Muslims during their religious occasions.
Al-Azhar reaffirmed that Al-Aqsa Mosque has always been and will remain a purely Islamic sanctuary, calling on the international community and the Arab and Islamic worlds to assume their responsibilities in protecting it and enabling worshippers to perform their prayers freely, safely, and with peace of mind.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, also condemned the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation authorities, describing the move as a provocation to Muslim sentiments worldwide.
Al-Yamahi criticized the strict measures imposed by Israeli forces, including preventing worshippers from entering the mosque compound during the holy month of Ramadan. He said such actions constitute a clear violation of freedom of worship and an infringement of the historical and legal status quo in occupied Jerusalem.
Al-Yamahi stated that blocking access to Al-Aqsa and obstructing religious rituals represents a dangerous escalation that provokes the feelings of more than 1.5 billion Muslims globally. He warned that these measures form part of attempts by the occupation authorities to impose a new reality in Jerusalem and erase its Arab and Islamic identity.
He stressed that the entire 144-dunam compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque is an Islamic place of worship exclusively for Muslims, warning that continued restrictions on access could ignite further unrest in the Palestinian territories and across the region.
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The Arab Parliament Speaker also expressed concern over restrictions affecting the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron (al-Khalil), including closures and the prevention of worshippers from entering, describing them as an assault on religious freedom and the sanctity of holy sites in Palestine.
Al-Yamahi called on the international community, the United Nations, and relevant organizations to assume their responsibilities in protecting holy sites in Jerusalem and to compel the occupying power to respect the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian sites.
He added that ongoing attacks on religious sites violate international law and undermine prospects for de-escalation and regional stability.
Source: yaffaps.com
