Muslim scholars call for public mobilsation to protect Al-Aqsa

The International Union of Muslim Scholars urged all Muslims to mobilise to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque and preserve it. In a statement issued yesterday signed by Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Chairman of the Union and the General Secretary Ali Al-Qarra Daghi, the group warned against compromising, violating, breaking into, and the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the faces of Muslims in any manner and for any period of time. It also called on the Muslim world and free world to take action "and mobilise and declare its willingness to support Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem and Palestine". There has been a prevalent state of tension in Jerusalem over the past few days after the escalating Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque, including prohibiting worshipers from entering the mosque. These criminal acts have increased after the Israelis claimed that an assassination attempt was made against the Jewish extremist Rabbi, allegedly committed by a young Palestinian man (who was then killed) last Wednesday and resulted in the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque to Muslim worshippers for a day. In its statement the Union also said that it is "monitoring the escalating criminal acts committed by the Zionist occupation against Al-Aqsa Mosque with great concern. Such acts include dangerous attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and arrests and killings of Jerusalemites without any investigations or evidence." "Israel even dared to completely close Al-Aqsa to the Muslims on Thursday," considering such actions to be "blatant violations of international laws and norms." They also expressed their regret in the statement that "all this is occurring while the international community and Arab and Muslim world remains shamefully silent". The Union said it also "denounces the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Zionist occupiers, the decision to close Al-Aqsa Mosque in the face of worshippers, and then opening the mosque only to the elderly who are over the age of 50." "All of these violations, attacks, and decisions are completely rejected by the Union. They are considered to be criminal in every sense of the word." The union also "calls for a public uprising and mobilisation to rescue Al-Aqsa from such acts. If we do not mobilise for Al-Aqsa, what will we mobilise for. Is there anything holier and greater to the Muslims after Masjid Al-Haram and the Prophet's Mosque, than Al-Aqsa Mosque?" "The free world, from east, west, north, and south are called on to take action to save Al-Aqsa which is at risk of being demolished at any moment in light of the unfortunate global silence. It is as if such silence is encouragement for the occupation to demolish the mosque," the statement said. The Union also added it "demands the prosecution of Israeli leaders who gave the orders to their police system to track down Jerusalemites and kill one of its people under the pretext of attempting to assassinate a right-wing extremist Zionist who tried to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, without carrying out any investigations. This is considered a crime that warrants immediate international intervention." It also held the "Arab and Muslim countries responsible for any damage to Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, the Jerusalemites, or to the Palestinian cause as a whole."   Middleeastmonitor