Malaysia condemns closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadhan
Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) — Malaysia, through its Foreign Ministry, has firmly condemned Israel’s continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque gates to Muslim worshippers during the holy month of Ramadhan.
Malaysia views the discriminatory and arbitrary restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship as a serious violation of international law and international humanitarian law, as well as the historical status quo and laws governing holy sites in Jerusalem.
“This action represents yet another provocation against Muslim worshippers and further escalates tensions in the occupied Palestinian territory,” stated a statement from Malaysia’s Wisma Putra in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
Malaysia also firmly rejects these illegal and unjustifiable steps and condemns Israel’s continued efforts to undermine the sanctity and status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Malaysian Foreign Ministry emphasised that the Jerusalem Waqf and the Department of Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs—under Jordan’s Ministry of Endowments, Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites—remain the sole legitimate authority responsible for managing the site and regulating access to it.
Malaysia has urged the international community to pressure the occupying power to halt the ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and to respect the sanctity and historical status quo and laws of these holy places.
Earlier, foreign ministers from eight countries, including Indonesia, on Wednesday (11 March) condemned Israel’s closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque complex gates to Muslim worshippers, particularly during the holy month of Ramadhan, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, 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 and the historical status quo and laws governing the site.