Fatwa urges Eid prayers near Al-Aqsa Mosque amid ongoing closure

Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque and former Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, has issued a fatwa (religious ruling) calling on Muslims to perform Eid prayers at the nearest point to Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has been closed for more than two weeks. Palestinian platforms reported that the ruling urges all Muslims to head towards Al-Aqsa Mosque and pray as close to it as possible. It also calls for mosques across Jerusalem to be closed and for Eid prayers not to be held inside them. Israeli forces prevented worshippers from observing Laylat al-Qadr at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday, as the site remained closed for the 17th consecutive day. Hundreds of people were forced to mark the night, […]