Pakistan, Muslim countries condemn Israeli curbs on worshippers in occupied Jerusalem

Islamabad: Pakistan and seven other Muslim countries have strongly condemned the continued Israeli restrictions on the freedom of worship for Muslims and Christians in occupied Jerusalem, including the prevention of Muslim worshippers from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque.

In this regard, a joint statement was issued by Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The Foreign Ministers renewed their condemnation and rejection of any Israeli attempts to alter the legal and historical status quo at Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

They said these continued Israeli measures constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as of the legal and historical status quo and represent an infringement on the unrestricted right of access to places of worship.

The Foreign Ministers affirmed their absolute rejection of the illegal and restrictive Israeli measures against Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem, including preventing Christians from freely accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to perform their religious rites.

They stressed the necessity of respecting the legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem and its Muslim and Christian holy sites, reiterating that Israel, as the occupying power, holds no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem, and underscoring the need to halt all measures that impede worshippers’ access to their places of worship.

The Ministers reiterated that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque/ Al-Haram Al-Sharif is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the legal entity with exclusive jurisdiction to administer the affairs of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif and regulate entry thereto.

They called on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately cease the closure of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque/ Al-Haram Al-Sharif, remove access restrictions in the Old City of Jerusalem, and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers’ access to the mosque.

They also called on the international community to adopt a firm position that compels Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as its violations of the sanctity of these holy places.