DMI Urges Immediate Reopening of Al-Aqsa Mosque
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The General Chairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI), Jusuf Kalla, has voiced concern over the closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli authorities and urged its immediate reopening.
According to JK, as Jusuf Kalla is affectionately known, the closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque impedes Muslims from performing their worship, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
“This closure is something we deeply regret. We demand that the Al-Aqsa Mosque be reopened, especially during the momentum of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr,” he stated, as quoted in Jakarta on Thursday.
Furthermore, JK assessed that this step contradicts principles of togetherness, humanity, and international cooperation. Additionally, he views the management of the Al-Aqsa Mosque as under Jordanian authority. Thus, JK stated, Israel’s closure action is considered a violation of existing agreements.
He then emphasised that the DMI, along with Indonesian society, also condemns this closure and hopes the situation improves soon so that Muslims can return to worshipping safely and comfortably.
In a joint statement, the Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar stated that restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and places of worship there violate international law as well as the historical and legal status quo governing the site.
The Foreign Ministers rejected Israel’s actions, which they described as illegal and unjustified. They condemned Israel’s actions against worshippers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, while emphasising that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the area.
They reaffirmed that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque complex is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims. Additionally, they stressed that the Department of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem Waqf Affairs, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, holds sole authority to manage the site.
These Foreign Ministers urged Israel to immediately reopen the mosque gates, lift access restrictions to the Old City of Jerusalem, and ensure that Muslim worshippers can reach the location freely.
They also urged the international community to take a firm stance to halt what they described as ongoing violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.