The Holy Aqsa Masjid is in Great Danger - by Hyder Raza

[Email]

The Holy Aqsa Masjid is in Great Danger of Destruction by the Zionists

Jerusalem, (ISNA) Sunday, 4 February, 2007, Chief Palestinian Islamic Justice, Sheikh Taysir Tamimi called for massive participation in protest on Sunday to defend Al Aqsa Mosque.

The Muslim holy site is under major duress as Zionist regime's forces continue to excavate underneath, creating tunnels which threaten the foundation.

Above ground the occupying forces are building settlement outposts on several confiscated plots and continue to demolish area homes. Just outside the Dome of the Rock complex, Zionist regime's forces are building a synagogue.

But the urgent call is dealing specifically with the wall on the Mosque's west side and Sunday's slated demolition of that and part of the Moroccan Gate area.

Sheikh Tamimi said that the sanctity of the mosque must be preserved in the face of the conspiracies and procedures aimed at its destruction.

He expressed suspicion at the international community that has been quiet on the issue of what is happening to Beit Ul Mogaddas and its Old City.

The Aqsa Mosque and another mosque called the Dome of the Rock sit above the Western Wall, on land referred to by Muslims as the Al-Haram al-Sherif.

The Zionist regime is building illegal military outposts on several confiscated plots and continue to demolish homes in the area. Just outside the Dome of the Rock complex, occupation forces are building a synagogue.

But the urgent call is dealing specifically with the wall on the Mosque's western side and Sunday's slated demolition of that and part of the Mugrabi (Moroccan) Gate area.

Sheikh Tamimi said that the sanctity of the mosque must be preserved in the face of the "conspiracies and procedures aimed at its destruction".

He accused the international community of silence toward what is happening to Al-Quds and its Old City.

The leader of the Islamic Movement's northern branch, Ra'ad Salah, and the head of Supreme Muslim Council, Sheikh Ikrama Sabri called on the Muslim residents of Al-Quds and Occupied Palestine to arrive at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and protest the Zionist regime's plan.

On Saturday, a Saudi-based body of Islamic scholars condemned the occupation regime's excavations near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying it was "blatant violation" of the shrine's sanctity.

"The most serious element is plans to excavate under the walls of the Aqsa Mosque and its underground tunnels," the Islamic Jurisprudence Academy said in a statement.

"The Academy expresses its sorrow about blatant violations of the sanctity of the mosque, whose existence is threatened," said the Jeddah-based Academy, which groups prominent Sunni and Shiite clerics from around the world.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian government was urged to encourage other Muslim countries to press the Zionist regime to stop constructing a tunnel under the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

"The Indonesian government must file a protest with the UN against the Israeli activity," said Suripto, a member of the House of Representatives' Commission on defense, information and foreign affairs.

The tunnel construction has deeply hurt the feelings of Muslims all over the world as the Al-Aqsa Mosque is Islam's second most holy shrine, he said.

As the world's largest Muslim country, Indonesia must promote solidarity among members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to protest the tunnel's construction, he said.

[Dr. Shabbir]

Muslims are good at yelling, crying and destroying their own property while holding protests. That's what they will do.
-SA