clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Israel bans children playing in Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard

October 3, 2017 at 12:12 pm

Israeli authorities have prohibiting Muslim children from playing in the courtyards surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to Israel’s Channel 7.

The channel reported yesterday that orders were issued to police units at Al-Aqsa in occupied Jerusalem not to allow children to play with balls in the courtyards.

It also reported that the Israeli Supreme Court issued an order banning Jerusalemite children from playing in Al-Aqsa courtyards.

#HandsOffAlAqsa

The order was issued after complaints filed about a month ago by settlers who storm Al-Aqsa Mosque and claimed to have seen children playing football around the schools.

According to the Supreme Court ruling, “ball games on Temple Mount [Al-Aqsa Mosque] are prohibited as it violates its sanctity.”

According to the Israeli police, the order is aimed primarily at the areas adjacent to the Islamic schools located in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Read: Israel bans head of Al-Aqsa authority from accessing mosque

Jewish organisations have demanded that such practices be banned and that those found doing so be prosecuted or at least have their balls confiscated. They claim that playing football “is a violation of the law regarding holy areas. The maximum punishment for this is seven years of imprisonment.” They also claimed that such practices are considered “a desecration of a holy site and cause emotional distress” to the Jews storming the mosque.