Occupation forces ban Sheikh Ekrima Sabri from Jerusalem's Old City after interrogation targeting his religious stances

The preacher of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, underwent a lengthy interrogation at the 'Moscovia' detention center belonging to the occupation authorities in occupied Jerusalem. The 87-year-old Sheikh appeared before the interrogators leaning on his cane, a move that reflects the occupation's insistence on pursuing religious figures in the holy city.

Following the two-hour interrogation, the occupation authorities decided to release Sheikh Sabri under restrictive conditions, which included a 15-day ban from Jerusalem's Old City. He was also required to sign a personal guarantee, with an obligation to reappear for interrogation if summoned again by the Israeli security services.

The interrogation session focused on Sheikh Sabri's recent statements, in which he expressed the Islamic legal opinion on the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the prevention of worshippers from accessing it. The Sheikh confirmed after his release that his pursuit came because he clearly stated that it is not permissible to suspend Friday prayers or close the mosque from a religious perspective.

These developments come amidst the occupation authorities imposing strict restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque, exploiting the instructions of the Home Front Command issued concurrently with the recent military escalation. These measures led to the complete closure of the mosque since the first days of the confrontations, preventing worshippers from reaching its premises.

Sheikh Ekrima Sabri described the current situation at Al-Aqsa Mosque as 'very worrying,' especially since the closure coincided with the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan, which usually witnesses hundreds of thousands of visitors. He indicated in statements to media sources that depriving Muslims of praying in their first Qibla is an arbitrary measure that lacks any legal or moral cover.

Al-Aqsa's preacher stressed that the mosque must remain far from political and military calculations and the emergency situations imposed by the occupation. He clarified that sovereignty over the mosque is an exclusive right of Muslims alone, and it is unacceptable to turn it into a military barracks or subject it to security decisions that prevent the performance of fundamental religious rituals.

In a message addressed to the Islamic nation, Sheikh Sabri called for the necessity of paying attention to the siege of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the absence of Friday and congregational prayers. He affirmed that suspending this ritual, which is a pillar of Islam, is something that cannot be tolerated, demanding the opening of mosques to worshippers without restrictions.

For its part, the legal team following Sheikh Sabri's case condemned this summons, considering it an attempt to silence voices and prevent influential figures from expressing their religious stances. Lawyer Khaled Zabarqa confirmed that what the Sheikh stated is purely a jurisprudential opinion that objects to exploiting regional circumstances to pass plans targeting the identity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Al-Aqsa Mosque should not be subject to emergency situations or be in the grip of the occupation authorities, and depriving Muslims of their worship is an illegal act.