"The closure of Al Aqsa and violence by Israel is obviously a violation of human rights," Zulkifli Hasan said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News)- Chairman of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan has condemned Israeli measures to restrict access of Palestinian worshipers to the Al Aqsa Mosque compound.

Palestinians have the right to worship freely in their own mosque and land, Hasan said on his Twitter account on Monday.

"The closure of Al Aqsa and violence by Israel is obviously a violation of human rights," he said.

The Indonesian people always fully support the Palestinian struggle for independence, he emphasized.

"Indonesia stands with the Palestinian people in their fight for independence. This is religious and humanitarian solidarity," he remarked.

He called on the Indonesian people to pray for Palestinians, particularly those who had fallen victim to the Israeli aggression in Al Aqsa.

Al Aqsa Mosque is Islams third holiest site after Masjidil Haram in Mecca and Nabawi Mosque in Medina; the first qibla (direction faced while praying); and the second mosque to be ever built on Earth.

All gates around the Al aqsa or also known as Al-Haram al-Sharif compound have been closed, with the exception of three fitted with metal detectors. Earlier, Israel had even closed the compound.

On July 21, thousands of Indonesian Muslims took on the streets in several cities, such as in Bandung (West Java), Solo (Central Java), Tasikmalaya (West Java), and Jakarta, to join simultaneous worldwide protests dubbed "Day of Rage" against Israeli aggression in Al Aqsa, held after Mass Friday Prayers.

"Indonesia asks the UN, the UN Secretary General (in particular), to allow the UN Security Council to convene a session soon to discuss the Al Aqsa Mosque crisis," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said in Yogyakarta on July 22.

The Indonesian government has also demanded Israel not to change the status quo of Al Aqsa compound that guarantees access to Muslims to pray in Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock Mosque.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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