Morocco solidarity week for Al-Aqsa Mosque on anniversary of arson attack

A civil society organisation in Morocco announced yesterday the launch of a solidarity week for Al-Aqsa Mosque on the 55th anniversary of the 1969 arson attack against the sacred site in Jerusalem, the Palestinian Information Centre has reported.

The solidarity week is the initiative of the National Action Group for Palestine. The NGO said that the planned activities reflect “a deep commitment to the principles of the Palestinian cause, which we consider to be a national issue.” On this painful anniversary, the group added, it stands in remembrance and renews its condemnation of this crime.

The arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque happened on 21 August, 1969. The arsonist was an Australian called Michael Dennis Rohan. The fire consumed the entire contents of the east wing of Al-Qibli Mosque in the southern part of the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa, including its historic pulpit, the Minbar of Salahuddin.

The NGO explained that the week’s activities will include a protest in front of the parliament building in Rabat on Wednesday. It urged Moroccans to “participate en masse”. While not providing further details about the other activities planned for the week, it called for all civil society organisations in Morocco to hold special programmes for Al-Aqsa Mosque Week, including cultural, sports and artistic events.

In recent months, there has been an increase in incursions at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli settlers and officials, including far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

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