HNW Calls on Muslims to Unite in Saving Al-Aqsa from Israel
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia, M Hidayat Nur Wahid (HNW), has called on the entire Muslim ummah to unite and close ranks in safeguarding the safety and continuity of Al-Aqsa Mosque as a cultural heritage of the Muslim community recognised by UNESCO.
HNW strongly condemned Israel’s continuous crimes against Al-Aqsa Mosque, including its double standards, whereby Muslims are prohibited from worshipping inside it during the month of Ramadan up to mid-Shawwal.
“Israel’s double standards must be firmly rejected, galvanising the ummah to unite after expressing condemnation by fulfilling the obligations of all parties and the entire Muslim ummah, according to their capabilities, authority, and responsibilities, to save and protect Al-Aqsa Mosque,” said HNW in his statement in Jakarta on Saturday.
He stated that Israel’s double standards in prohibiting Muslims from worshipping at Al-Aqsa, while allowing and protecting Jews to worship in the area, constitute a crime.
“The Zionist Israeli crime, if left unchecked, will destroy the mosque and replace it with the Temple of Solomon,” he said.
Israel’s actions, through Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who openly led an ‘incursion’ for the opening of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex but for Jewish worship at the Western Wall.
According to him, Israel’s actions should awaken the Muslim ummah and leaders of Islamic countries that the existence and continuity of Al-Aqsa Mosque as a place of worship, which is the first qibla of Muslims, is in serious danger.
“Israel’s radical stance should awaken the realisation that this is no longer a trivial matter, but a serious and real issue that must be responded to and prevented with effective and concrete joint steps,” he emphasised.
HNW noted that Israel is merely paying lip service by opening the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex only for Fajr prayer, limiting the time and number of worshippers. This action has proclaimed Israel as the controller of permissions for Al-Aqsa Mosque, no longer the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
HNW said Israel’s actions against Al-Aqsa are a form of continuous crime that must be rejected. Moreover, the timing is linked to Jewish Passover worship, and it has been proven that several provocative actions by radical Jewish groups around Al-Aqsa Mosque continue to occur and are still protected by the Israeli military.
“This once again shows continuous crimes through permissiveness and overt incursions against Al-Aqsa Mosque carried out by Jewish parties,” said HNW.
Israel’s lip service, he continued, was proven after just a few minutes following the Fajr prayer, when Israeli police resorted to violence by assaulting and arresting several worshippers, both men and women, and expelling them from Al-Aqsa Mosque.
However, Israel then allowed more than 400 Jewish worshippers from various groups to pray in the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex without restrictions on numbers or time, even with security escorts.
“Severe discrimination. The current situation is even described as the worst condition for Al-Aqsa Mosque during Israel’s occupation of Palestine,” he said.
HNW emphasised that Israel’s stance has grossly violated human rights and international law. In addition to prohibiting Muslims from worshipping during Ramadan up to mid-Shawwal, thereby preventing obligatory prayers, Tarawih prayers, Friday prayers, i’tikaf, and even Eid al-Fitr prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israel also prohibits Christians from worshipping in the Old City of Jerusalem, which houses one of the most historic churches for Christians.
“This shows how Israel behaves wickedly and discriminatorily towards Muslim and Christian religious communities, while still protecting Jews,” he said.
HNW hopes that authorised parties, such as Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, which is the legitimate entity authorised to manage Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which was established to save Al-Aqsa Mosque, can take more concrete steps rather than just issuing statements of rejection or condemnation.
He also reminded leaders of Arab-Islamic countries, members of the OIC, to take this issue more seriously.