ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of eight Islamic countries, including Pakistan, have condemned Israel’s measures to block access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites as unacceptable.
A joint statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The joint statement said that Israel’s blocking of access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Holy Church is a clear violation of international law and human rights.
The statement rejected any attempt to change the legal and historical status of religious sites in occupied Jerusalem and said that keeping the doors of Al-Aqsa Mosque closed during the holy month of Ramadan is a violation of religious freedom.
The joint statement reiterated Jordan’s position of declaring the Department of Endowments as the sole authorized body for the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque and called on the international community to play an effective and immediate role in stopping Israeli actions.
