Israeli court rejects Raed Salah appeal

An Israeli court in Haifa rejected the appeal filed by Sheikh Raed Salah’s defence team on Wednesday and decided to continue to detain the head of the Islamic Movement in Israel pending completion of judicial procedures, Felesteen.ps has reported.

“Despite all the difficult circumstances I am faced with, I am saying clearly that I am not going to give up any verse from the Holy Qur’an or saying of Prophet Muhammad,” Sheikh Salah told the court. “I am not conceding any of the bricks of Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Islamic, Arabic and Palestinian principles related to it. I am never conceding anything until I die.”

The Israeli occupation police said that officers arrested Salah to investigate him on suspicion of “incitement” and supporting the activities of a banned and outlawed organisation. This was a reference to the Islamic Movement, which Israel banned in November 2015.

Sheikh Raed Salah is known locally as “Sheikh of Al-Aqsa” for his robust defence of the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa in occupied Jerusalem against incursions by extremist Jewish settlers and far-right Israeli politicians. Al-Aqsa Mosque is the only mosque mentioned by name in the Qur’an apart from the Holy Mosque in Makkah.

Read: Israeli officials are behind detention of Sheikh Raed Salah, says lawyer