Palestine News Network (PNN) : "Visiting Al Aqsa Mosque for Ramadan prayers: insults, provocation, mockery of religious rituals" par Mustafa Sabri

Visiting Al Aqsa Mosque for Ramadan prayers: insults, provocation, mockery of religious rituals

13.09.09 - 22:39

Tulkarem / Mustafa Sabri for PNN – For residents of the West Bank it is easier to travel to Mecca to perform Hajj and Umrah than it is to access East Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque.

Despite the proximity, Israeli barriers and crossings are in place to prevent access all along the way. The first Qiblah is the third holiest site for Muslims and the occupying police haunt even the final doors into the Mosque.

For the third Friday of Ramadan, PNN was on the scene.

Difficult journey

It was not possible to enter Al Aqsa Mosque as usual, but women and the elderly could. The age groups that were banned performed Friday prayers in the surrounding areas of the Mosque, in the neighborhoods and the villages. After an arduous and difficult journey in the sultry days of summer it seemed cruel to not be able to enter.

A 67 year old man from Qalqilia said, “The Jews do not have mercy on anyone. All worshippers have been prevented from approaching the gates of Al Aqsa Mosque. There is no help for the elderly who have to walk a great distance; myself, I am walking more than a kilometer so that I can enter. I am exhausted and am trying to help the elderly from my congregation who are with me.”

The journey is incredibly difficult, with Israeli soldiers deliberately placing obstacles in front of each visitor so that he will not again return to Jerusalem or visit Al Aqsa Mosque.

Looks suspicious

Seventy year old Haj Ahmed Zeid told PNN, “On our faces are the looks of fatigue and our bodies are weak. The soldiers are screaming in the Hebrew language, ‘why come to Jerusalem.’ Immediately I assert my rights, but there are twice the number of troops deployed along the road leading to the gates of Al Aqsa Mosque and saw with my own eyes the prosecutions by each of the soldiers against the people who are suspected of being young from the West Bank. Young Jerusalemites are stopped to ensure their place of residence. It is tragic that Jews come from around the world to control our entry to Al Aqsa Mosque.”

Under 50

Throughout the world people want to remain in the prime of their youth and strength. But this is not the case for Palestinians who wish to age quickly in order to be able to enter Al Aqsa Mosque. A man told PNN, “Israeli soldiers stopped me because I’m 38 years old and said to me, ‘If you are over 50 then you have the right to enter.’ I disagreed and a group of soldiers came over. A Druze told me to enter from another way, but within seconds border guards and police were there who said, ‘We’re security forces, not charity.’ I said to one, ‘I have not seen Jerusalem for several years.’ He replied sarcastically, ‘Let Abu Mazen tell Netanyahu to reduce the age limit, then you are entitled to enter. This is the land of Israel. Do you understand?’”

Men under 50 are banned from praying in Al Aqsa Mosque, as are women less than 45 years of age.

Increased racism

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, head of the Supreme Islamic Court and Imam of Al Aqsa Mosque, told PNN that by determining the age of entering the Mosque, the occupying authority has reached a new height in racism by attempting to drain religion of its youth.

“This is contrary to all laws and regulations in force internationally, and I was perplexed by the silence of human rights bodies and Western countries that speak of pro-democracy day and night, and who raised concerns over issues such as Buddha statues in Afghanistan, while in Jerusalem the Palestinians are suffering from intense racism and holy places are being violated in broad daylight.”

Despite the stun grenades, smoke, gas, rubber and live bullets that were used throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem to prevent worshippers from reaching Al Aqsa Mosque on Friday, many of us made it, and we will all keep pushing through.

 


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