Apartheid Regime Gang (they call it Police) Illegaly Arrest Al-Aqsa Mosque's Imam Khatib Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri

The Apartheid regime gang (they call it police) have arrested the imam-preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri.

The arrest took place at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in Palestine, a holy site for Muslims. Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri is the chief imam and preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a prominent religious figure. The arrest happened during the holy month of Ramadan, a significant Islamic fasting period.

The Apartheid Regime Gang did not provide any reason for Sheikh Sabri's arrest. This incident has led to tensions between Israel and Palestinian Muslims, as the Al-Aqsa Mosque is an important religious center for the Palestinian community.

Such arrests of Palestinian religious leaders by Israel are not uncommon and are seen by Palestinians as a violation of their religious freedoms. The Al-Aqsa Mosque holds immense spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide, and its sanctity is zealously guarded.

This latest crackdown on a revered Islamic cleric during Ramadan is likely to further inflame the already volatile situation in Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories. It demonstrates the Israeli authorities' continued efforts to exert control over Palestinian religious and cultural institutions, which are crucial to the Palestinian national identity.

The arrest of Sheikh Sabri is a stark reminder of the asymmetric power dynamics and the ongoing struggle for self-determination and religious autonomy in the region. As the international community watches closely, the need for a just and lasting peace that respects the rights of all parties involved becomes ever more pressing.

International Community's Reaction to the Arrest of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri

The recent arrest of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, by Israeli authorities has sparked reactions from the international community. Sheikh Sabri, who is also a preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, was taken into custody from his home in occupied East Jerusalem on August 21, 2024. [[1]](https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/israeli-detains-al-aqsa-imam-sheikh-ikrima-sabri-following-friday-sermon-35633/)[[2]](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/10/israel-arrests-former-grand-mufti-of-jerusalem-ikrima-sabri)

According to reports, Israeli police and intelligence teams surrounded Sheikh Sabri's house and asked him to accompany them, but they did not provide any reason for his arrest. [[2]](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/10/israel-arrests-former-grand-mufti-of-jerusalem-ikrima-sabri) This is not the first time the 85-year-old religious leader has been targeted by Israeli authorities. In the past, he has been arrested and interrogated multiple times, barred from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and had his travel restricted. [[1]](https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/israeli-detains-al-aqsa-imam-sheikh-ikrima-sabri-following-friday-sermon-35633/)

The arrest of Sheikh Sabri appears to be related to his Friday sermon, in which he prayed for the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. [[1]](https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/israeli-detains-al-aqsa-imam-sheikh-ikrima-sabri-following-friday-sermon-35633/) Israel has initiated an investigation into the sermon, and the country's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has expressed his support for the investigation. [[1]](https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/israeli-detains-al-aqsa-imam-sheikh-ikrima-sabri-following-friday-sermon-35633/) Additionally, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel has announced plans to revoke Sheikh Sabri's residency permit in East Jerusalem, effectively aiming to expel him from the city. [[1]](https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/israeli-detains-al-aqsa-imam-sheikh-ikrima-sabri-following-friday-sermon-35633/)

The international community has responded to the arrest of Sheikh Sabri with concern and condemnation. Many have criticized Israel's actions as a violation of the right to freedom of expression and religion. The arrest of a prominent religious figure like Sheikh Sabri is seen as a further escalation of tensions in the region and a threat to the fragile status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. [[1]](https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/israeli-detains-al-aqsa-imam-sheikh-ikrima-sabri-following-friday-sermon-35633/)[[2]](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/10/israel-arrests-former-grand-mufti-of-jerusalem-ikrima-sabri)

In my opinion, the arrest of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri by Israeli authorities is a concerning development that highlights the ongoing tensions and human rights issues in the occupied Palestinian territories. The international community should closely monitor the situation and call for the immediate release of Sheikh Sabri and the protection of the rights of Palestinians, including their freedom of religion and expression. [[1]](https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/israeli-detains-al-aqsa-imam-sheikh-ikrima-sabri-following-friday-sermon-35633/)[[2]](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/10/israel-arrests-former-grand-mufti-of-jerusalem-ikrima-sabri)

---
Learn more:
1. [Israeli detains Al-Aqsa Imam Sheikh Ikrima Sabri following Friday sermon - Türkiye Today](https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/israeli-detains-al-aqsa-imam-sheikh-ikrima-sabri-following-friday-sermon-35633/)
2. [Israel arrests former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Ikrima Sabri | Al-Aqsa Mosque News | Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/10/israel-arrests-former-grand-mufti-of-jerusalem-ikrima-sabri)
3. [Ekrima Sa'id Sabri - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekrima_Sa%27id_Sabri)

Here is a detailed response to the user's message regarding the international community's reaction to the arrest of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri:

The arrest of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and a prominent preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, has drawn strong condemnation from the international community.

Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, has strongly condemned the arrest, calling it "a direct attack on our scholars and religious authorities" and a blatant Zionist interference in the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque. [[1]](https://www.saba.ye/en/news3355282.htm) Hamas has held the Israeli authorities fully responsible for the safety of Sheikh Sabri and demanded his immediate release, as well as effective Arab and Islamic action to condemn his arrest and protect the imams and preachers of Al-Aqsa from the violations of the Israeli occupation.

The arrest took place on Friday after Sheikh Sabri, who is 84 years old, mourned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas political bureau, during his Friday sermon at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. [[1]](https://www.saba.ye/en/news3355282.htm)[[2]](https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=2324985) Israeli police stormed his house in occupied East Jerusalem and took him into custody, without providing any reason for his arrest. [[3]](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/10/israel-arrests-former-grand-mufti-of-jerusalem-ikrima-sabri)

The international news agency BERNAMA reported that after several hours of detention, the Israeli authorities released Sheikh Sabri but ordered him to be deported from the Al-Aqsa Mosque until August 8, with a possibility of extending the deportation for six months. [[2]](https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=2324985) This move was seen as a further attempt by the Israeli authorities to restrict the activities of influential religious figures who defend the Arabism of Jerusalem and the Islamism of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The arrest and deportation of Sheikh Sabri have been widely condemned by the international community, with calls for the Israeli authorities to respect the religious and political rights of the Palestinian people and to refrain from interfering in the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is a highly sensitive and symbolic site for Muslims worldwide. [[3]](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/10/israel-arrests-former-grand-mufti-of-jerusalem-ikrima-sabri)

---
Learn more:
1. [Hamas condemns arrest of Sheikh Ekrima Sabri - SabaNet](https://www.saba.ye/en/news3355282.htm)
2. [BERNAMA - Israel Releases Iman Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, Deports Him From Al-Aqsa Mosque](https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=2324985)
3. [Israel arrests former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Ikrima Sabri | Al-Aqsa Mosque News | Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/10/israel-arrests-former-grand-mufti-of-jerusalem-ikrima-sabri)

Here is a detailed response regarding the international community's reaction to the arrest of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri:

The arrest of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the renowned preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, has drawn strong condemnation from the international community. Sabri was arrested by Israeli authorities after he expressed condolences for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, during a Friday sermon at the Al-Aqsa Mosque [[1]](https://iranpress.com/akram-sabri-arrested).

The Israeli government has accused Sabri of "incitement to terrorism" for his eulogy of Haniyeh [[2]](https://english.palinfo.com/news/2024/01/18/313018/). They have even gone so far as to demand the revocation of Sabri's citizenship and his expulsion from Jerusalem [[1]](https://iranpress.com/akram-sabri-arrested). This move has been widely criticized as a blatant attempt to silence a prominent Palestinian voice and further restrict religious freedoms in the occupied territories.

The international reaction has been swift and unequivocal. Malaysia, for example, has strongly condemned the arrest and the removal of Facebook content related to Haniyeh's assassination, calling it a violation of freedom of expression [[1]](https://iranpress.com/akram-sabri-arrested). Other Muslim-majority countries, such as Iran, have also denounced the Israeli actions and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The United Nations and various human rights organizations have also weighed in, condemning the arrest as a violation of the right to freedom of religion and expression. They have called on the Israeli authorities to respect the fundamental rights of Palestinians, including their right to practice their religion freely [[3]](https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=2324985).

The arrest of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri is seen by many as part of a broader pattern of Israeli repression and attempts to silence dissent in the occupied territories. The international community's strong reaction highlights the growing concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Palestine and the need for a just and lasting solution to the conflict.

---
Learn more:
1. [Al-Aqsa Mosque Imam Arrested over Paying Tribute to Martyr Haniyah](https://iranpress.com/akram-sabri-arrested)
2. [Israeli authorities to charge Sheikh Ekrima Sabri with incitement to terrorism](https://english.palinfo.com/news/2024/01/18/313018/)
3. [BERNAMA - Israel Releases Iman Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, Deports Him From Al-Aqsa Mosque](https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=2324985)