POLICE RELEASES HEAD OF ISLAMIC MOVEMENT RAED SALAH
Al-Quds (Yerusalem), 29 syawal 1434/5 September 2013 (MINA) – Israeli police released Wednesday Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, 24 hours after arresting him, according to Israeli reports.
The Israeli Magistrate Court had ordered release of Salah shortly after his arrest on condition he stays 30 kilometers away from Jerusalem for 180 days and ordered to pay bail of 50,000 Israeli shekels (app. $14,000).
Salah refused to sign such a pledge and therefore he was kept in prison until his release the next day. Alresalah media reported monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).
Police arrested Salah while he was on his to Jerusalem to attend a meeting that was supposed to discuss what to do to prevent Jewish fanatics from intruding into al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, during the upcoming Jewish holidays.
The Israel police, alongside with the Israeli intelligence services stooped the Sheikh Salah in Umwas area, and drove him to unknown direction, Zahi Nejaidat, the spokesperson of the Islamic Movement, said. Later, media sources reported that Sheikh Raed Salah was put into al-Maskobia prison in Jerusalem.
Sheikh Raed Salah was imprisoned and exiled by Israel tens of times.
It was worth mentioning that Sheikh Salah has been repeatedly kidnapped and imprisoned by Israel, and several rulings were issued against him preventing him from entering Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa mosque for six months each time.
On, September 3, 2013, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) detained Raed Salah. “The Israeli intelligence services stopped the vehicle that carried Sheikh Raed Salah near Umwas area, detained him and led him to an unknown direction,” Zahi Zuhaydat, the spokesperson for the Islamic Movement inside the Green Line.
Israel accuses allegedly Sheikh Salah of being engaged in sabotage. Chairman of the Al-Aqsa Foundation, Ali Abu Sheikha. “While I and Sheikh Raed Salah were in a car heading to join a news conference about Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli intelligence stopped us and detained Sheikh Salah,” he said.
Salah was about to give a press conference urging Muslims to join a gathering on Wednesday to show support for Al-Aqsa mosque.
Israeli forces reportedly told Abu Sheikha that Salah was detained for incitement against Jerusalem.
An Israeli police spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
No reason was given for the arrest but it is believed related to Palestinian efforts to confront planned Israeli intrusions into al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites which Jews also claim is the location of their destroyed temple, on Wednesday during Israeli celebrations of the Jewish New Year.
Salah served several years in prison due to his political activity and has also been banned from entering al-Aqsa Mosque or from being near its vicinity. (T/P02/P04)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
