Kemal Ergün, Chairman of the Islamic Community Millî Görüş, has issued a statement on the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Ibrahimi Mosque to worship during the month of Ramadan. In his statement, Ergün stated:

“Israel’s decision to lock the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan for the first time in 59 years is a horrific development that wounds the collective conscience of all humanity. The closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is Islam’s first qibla and one of its most sacred sanctuaries, is unacceptable under any pretext. That the gates of Al-Aqsa have been closed and worship obstructed during Ramadan for the first time since the 1967 occupation of Jerusalem serves as a warning to the entire global community, demonstrating just how far such arbitrary actions and violations of rights can go.

The lock on the gates of Al-Aqsa concerns not only the Muslims in Palestine and the Ummah but all people of conscience worldwide. The protection of holy sites is a requirement of international law. The human rights principles adopted by the United Nations and international norms regarding freedom of religion are clear. The closure of holy sites is a practice that contravenes these principles.

The closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque is yet another indicator of the collapse of the values-based order—an order founded on the fundamental values of religious freedom and human rights. All people of conscience united around universal values have a responsibility to oppose the closure of Al-Aqsa and the ambitions of Israel’s far-right government to destroy and annex this holy site of Islam.

Freedom of worship is not negotiable and cannot be exploited for political ends. Therefore, we urge the international community to break its silence and adopt a resolute stance to protect the status of these holy sites.”