Israel Flouts International Convention By Closing Al-Aqsa Mosque

KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 (Bernama) -- The action of the Israeli military regime in closing the Al-Aqsa Mosque and preventing Palestinian Muslims from entering the mosque has flouted the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights1966 (ICCPR) signed by Israel on October 3, 1991. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said the action was in violation of Article 18 (1) - (3) of the ICCPR which guarantees freedom of religion to individuals and communities and is a clear contempt of international law. "The rights of Palestinians are also guaranteed by Article 27 of the Geneva Convention on the need to respect the rights and religious practices of a society," he said in a statement Monday. According to news reports, Israeli police closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque and did not allow Friday prayers to be held there after three Palestinians and two Israeli police were killed in an armed battle in the mosque's compound. Jamil Khir said Muslims stood firm in support of Prime Minister Najib Razak's statement Monday condemning the Israeli crackdown on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and denying the right of Muslims to perform Friday prayers there, in fact, it was an extreme act which violated international law. "Israel's inflammatory act has stirred up the anger of Muslims all over the world as the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the first ‘kiblat’ (direction) in Islam and the third holy mosque for Muslims after Masjidil Haram in Makkah and the Nabawi Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. "Al-Aqsa Mosque is actually a symbol of the dignity of Muslims whose purity must be defended and preserved," he said. Jamil Khir said any conflict between Israel and Palestine should not involve the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque, thus Malaysia urged Israel to reopen the Al-Aqsa Mosque to restore the right of Muslims to worship. Israel also needs to stop all forms of oppression against Muslims in Palestine, so Muslims in Malaysia are called upon to pray to Allah SWT to save the Al-Aqsa Mosque from Israel's cruelty, he said. -- BERNAMA