Khaberni - Mohammad Khalaileh, the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, reiterated Jordan's condemnation of the unprecedented closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque, describing it as a crime against the mosque and Muslims, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Minister stated in remarks to "Al-Mamlaka" on Thursday that the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque is an unprecedented event in history since the occupation.
Khalaileh explained that Al-Aqsa Mosque is an Islamic symbol and an integral part of the Muslim creed, emphasising that the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is the only entity with the right to decide the reopening or closure of the mosque.
He noted that Jordanian diplomacy, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, is proceeding to take the necessary measures to reopen the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In a statement, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs expressed its deep concern about the occupation authorities' closure of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, citing current events in the region, and deemed this unprecedented closure, especially during the last ten days of Ramadan, a crime against Al-Aqsa Mosque and Muslims worldwide.
The ministry confirmed that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque, (144) dunams, is under the Hashemite custodianship of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, stressing that it is the only entity authorized to manage Al-Aqsa Mosque with all its facilities and dependencies, and all Islamic Waqfs in Jerusalem.
The ministry emphasized the need to halt these violations and to reopen the doors of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque for worshippers, respecting its sanctity and the Muslims' right to pray and perform religious practices without restrictions or assaults.
The Foreign Ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the Arab Republic of Egypt condemned the ongoing Israeli occupation authorities' closure of the doors of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Qudsi Al-Sharif to Muslim worshippers, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
A joint statement released on Wednesday stated that the security restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship, alongside the discriminatory and arbitrary restrictions on access to other places of worship in the Old City, constitute a blatant violation of international and humanitarian law, the existing historical and legal status, and the unrestricted right to access worship places.
The ministers unequivocally rejected and condemned these unlawful and unjustified measures, and the ongoing Israeli provocative practices at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Qudsi Al-Sharif against worshippers.
They emphasized that Israel does not possess sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, reaffirming that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Qudsi Al-Sharif, measuring 144 dunams, is a pure place of worship for Muslims, and the Jerusalem Waqfs and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs are the only legal entities with exclusive competence in managing the affairs of the mosque and regulating entry to it.
The ministers demanded that Israel, as the occupation power, immediately cease the closure of the doors of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, not hinder access to it for worshippers, remove the restrictions imposed on access to the Old City of Jerusalem, and refrain from obstructing the Muslim worshippers' access to the mosque.
They also called on the international community to take a firm stance that obliges Israel to stop its ongoing violations and illegal practices against the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and violations of the sanctity of these sacred places.
