Europeans for al-Quds has strongly denounced the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) for its recent decisions to banish Sheikh Najeh Bakirat deputy head of the Islamic Awqaf Administration in Jerusalem from the holy city and to extend his travel ban.
In a statement on Saturday Europeans for al-Quds has called for urgent European action to stop Israel from its attempts to empty the Aqsa Mosque of Islamic figures and Jerusalemite activists and impose a new fait accompli at the holy site.
Europeans for al-Quds said that the Israeli decision on July 2 to extend the banishment of Sheikh Bakirat from Jerusalem following a similar decision on June 20 and the recent ban on his travel abroad for an additional six months represent a “persistent violation of his right of residence a form of forced exile and an attempt to prevent Palestinian religious figures from assuming their duties towards the Aqsa Mosque.”
The foundation described such Israeli measures against Sheikh Bakirat as part of an Israeli systematic policy aimed at weakening the Palestinian presence at the Aqsa Mosque and in the Old City and other areas of Jerusalem.
