Turkish Women Throw Headscarves at Male Worshippers in Al-Aqsa Closure Protest
The closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine by Israeli military forces has drawn condemnation from around the world. In Turkey, citizens and Muslim women have flocked to Al-Fatih Mosque in Istanbul to protest the closure of the sacred site during Ramadan.
Turkish Muslim women entered Al-Fatih Mosque and threw various feminine items at male worshippers preparing for Tarawih prayers as mockery for their inaction in defending Al-Aqsa Mosque, now under Israeli control.
According to reports from Quds News Network, the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation has prevented Muslims in Palestine from conducting congregational Tarawih prayers in the area of Islam’s first direction of prayer.
The action by women at Al-Fatih Mosque in Istanbul served as pressure on Turkish men to take action for the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque. During Tarawih prayers at the mosque, women threw their headscarves towards the rows of male worshippers preparing for the evening prayers.
“The action by Turkish women constitutes a form of protest against the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation, which continues to this day,” according to the Quds News Network report on Tuesday (17 March 2026). “The action by Turkish women at Al-Fatih Mosque questions the stance of men who do nothing to liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque, stating that Al-Aqsa needs real men,” the report added.
Israeli occupation forces have closed access to Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims in Palestine to worship over the past several days. The closure occurs during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. As a result, Muslims in Palestine cannot perform mandatory prayers or Tarawih prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest place of worship.
The closure of access to Al-Aqsa Mosque has been enforced by Israeli forces deploying military personnel, assisted by soldiers wearing United States insignia. The closure has been implemented whilst Israel and the United States are currently at war with the Islamic Republic of Iran.