Sheikh Ekrima Sabri warns of Israeli efforts to restrict Adhan in Quds (Jerusalem), occupied rerritories

QUDS, June 01 (YPA) – Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque and former Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, has warned of escalating Israeli efforts to restrict the Islamic call to prayer (Adhan) in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1948.

Sabri said the latest measures reflect a broader attempt to “legalize” restrictions on the Adhan after previous efforts to reduce its volume or limit its broadcast had failed.

Sabri’s warning came after The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a bill on Sunday that would introduce new restrictions on the use of loudspeakers for the Islamic call to prayer (Adhan) in mosques.

He stressed that Israeli occupation authorities have no right to alter the historical status quo in the occupied territories, emphasizing that the Adhan is a religious rite and an Islamic act of worship protected under the right to freedom of religion. Any attempt to ban it, he said, would constitute a violation of that right.

Sabri also noted that the Adhan has been closely tied to the history of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque since it was first raised by Bilal ibn Rabah following the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem during the era of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab.

He added that Islam respects the religious practices of followers of other religions, asserting that the real source of noise is not the Adhan, but rather the aircraft, tanks, and military vehicles used by Israeli forces in their ongoing military assaults.

@E.Y.M