Israel Bans Great Imam Sheikh Ekrima Sabri From Entering Al Aqsa Mosque

Sheikh Ekrima Sabri. (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - Israel's occupation court on Thursday issued a decision to ban Jerusalem's Grand Mufti and high priest Sheikh Ekrima Sabri from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque.

Lawyer Khaled Zabarqa said an Israeli court in Jerusalem issued a decision prohibiting Sheikh Ekrima Sabri from entering Al Aqsa Mosque for six months, quoted from WAFA Aug. 8.

Earlier, Israeli forces detained Sheikh Ekrima Sabri after raiding his home in Al-Sawana, Jerusalem on August 2.

He was then taken to the interrogation center and detention of Al-Moskobiya in Jerusalem.

Sheikh Ekrima Sabri was arrested by Israeli forces for paying tribute to the Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas who was killed in Tehran, Iran last Wednesday, Ismail Haniyeh, quoted by Anadolu.

After Friday Prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Sabri led the hidden prayer for the late Haniyeh.

"The people of Jerusalem and its surroundings from the pulpit of the Al-Aqsa Mosque which was blessed with grief over the death of Syuhada Ismail Haniyeh," he said while giving a sermon.

Sheikh Ekrima Sabri was later released by Israeli authorities, after being detained for several hours.

Khaled Zabarka said last week, Sheikh Ekrima was later banned from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque until August 8 and was possibly extended for six months.

Earlier, the 85-year-old cleric had previously been detained by Israeli forces and barred from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem for months.

Syekh Sabri is a strong critic of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories that has been going on for decades. He previously served as the Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories from 1994 to 2006.