Ikrama Sabri condemns closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque, warns of attempt to impose control

Sheikh Ikrama Sabri, preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, has condemned the Israeli occupation authorities’ decision to close the mosque, stating that there is “no justification” for the measure and warning that its objective is to impose control over the holy site.

In remarks carried by Al Jazeera on the second consecutive day of the closure, Sabri said the occupation authorities were exploiting the declared state of emergency to restrict access to the mosque and consolidate control over it.

“The occupation authorities exploit any occasion to close Al-Aqsa, and this is completely unjustified,” he said, noting that worshippers had been prevented from performing evening and Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan.

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According to a statement issued by the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate, Israeli authorities continued to seal off Jerusalem, including the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque, for a second day under emergency measures announced following the start of the US-Israeli attack on Iran early Saturday.

Sabri explained that at the onset of the war, worshippers, Sharia court staff and school employees were evacuated from the compound, leaving only mosque guards before the site was fully closed.

He argued that the closure represents “police domination under the pretext of security”, describing it as unnecessary and contrary to freedom of worship. He added that the move undermines the authority of the Islamic Waqf, the Jordan-affiliated body responsible for administering the mosque.

The continued shutdown has prevented tens of thousands of Muslims from attending nightly prayers during Ramadan, raising concerns among religious authorities over restrictions on access to one of Islam’s holiest sites in occupied Jerusalem.

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