The Israeli occupation police in Jerusalem released Sheikh Abdul-Adheem Salhab head of the Islamic Awqaf Council and his deputy Sheikh Najeh Bukairat on Sunday after handing them administrative orders banning their entry to the Aqsa Mosque for seven days.
Lawyer Mohamed Mahmoud who works for the Palestinian Commission of Detainees stated that the Israeli police already took the decision to banish them from the Mosque before holding a court session for them later today.
Israeli police forces at dawn Sunday stormed the homes of Sheikh Salhab and his deputy in Jerusalem before their lawyer was able to visit them at al-Maskubiya detention center.
Last Friday the Awqaf Council decided to reopen the prayer space at the Bab al-Rahma area despite opposition from the Israeli police which had sealed it off in 2003 during the second intifada.
Sheikh Salhab personally led the crowds that reopened the entrance to the prayer space and hundreds of Muslims went inside to pray for the first time in years.
