Israel shuts down Al Aqsa mosque after shooting

International Desk: Israeli police closed and cancelled Friday noon prayers in Al Aqsa mosque and briefly detained Jerusalem's top Muslim cleric after three Palestinians and two Israeli police officers were killed in a shootout in Al Aqsa compound.

Sheikh Mohammad Ahmed Hussein, who decried the mosque closure, was taken into custody from the Bab Al-Asbat area (Lion's Gate) after leading an open-air prayer nearby.

"Israeli police detained my father in a violent manner and took him to unknown destination," said Omar, the grand mufti's son.

Hussein was later released on $2,800 bail.

Sheikh Omar Keswani, a religious official at Al Aqsa, decried the closure and cancellation of Friday prayers.

"Forbidding the Friday prayer is an unfair procedure," Keswani said. "What happened earlier is now being taken advantage of by the Israeli right to impose a new reality in Al Aqsa mosque."

Haj Khalil Abu Elsheikh, 77, travelled 100km from Beer-sheva to attend Friday prayers at Al Aqsa mosque.

"No religion allows this," he said, referring to praying on the side of the road. "No belief accepts this."

The rare attack from within the contested Al Aqsa compound, revered by both Muslims and Jews, raised new concerns about an escalation of violence.

Source: Agencies



Risingbd/July 15, 2017/Mukul