TURKISH AMBASSADOR: PREVENTING ENTRY OF AQSA AFFECT THE WHOLE ISLAMIC WORLD

Al-Quds, 4 Safar 1437/16 November 2015 (MINA) – The Turkish Consul General in Jerusalem, Ambassador Mustafa Sarnıç, praised the close relationship between his country and Palestine historically and culturally.

He drew attention to the big concern given by the Turkish people to the sanctity of al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem. He also stressed that preventing entry to al-Aqsa Mosque will affect the whole Islamic world, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Sarnıç pointed out in an exclusive interview with QPress that the sanctity of al-Aqsa Mosque is very important to the Muslim world, as it is related to the incident of “Isra and Mi’raj ” and is the third of the Two Holy Mosques (the Holy Kaaba at Mecca and the prophet’s Mosque at Madina), stressing that the sanctity of al-Aqsa is of great importance for the Turkish people, so it must be preserved with all its peculiarities.

He said also: “The humanitarian and moral obligation on those who care about al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem is to maintain its distinctiveness.” He stressed that the protection of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa is the responsibility of all Muslims.

He emphasized that preventing the entry of Muslims to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque, does not affect only Palestinians, but the entire Muslim world as a whole.

Sarnıç stressed the right of all Muslims of various nationalities and the Palestinians to enter al-Aqsa Mosque and to perform their religious rituals in full freedom and comfort without any restrictions.

He continued, “Jerusalem should be the city of peace for the three religions, and all parties should respect this. Achieving peace in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque is the responsibility of the entire world.”

Sarnıç stressed the keenness of the State of Turkey and its government, which will be composed soon, and its people on supporting Palestine and Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque with all potentials.

He explained that Turkey is working hard with all the means at the level of the presidency, ministries, non-governmental institutions and journalists, to highlight its position, its keenness and interest in al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as working at the level of international forums to do its duty towards al-Aqsa Mosque, to end the suffering of the Palestinians and Muslims so that they can reach al-Aqsa Mosque for prayers.

As for the projects implemented by Turkey in the city of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, the ambassador said that many important projects were implemented in the infrastructure and maintenance of cultural monuments and the Islamic archaeological relics in the Old City and in al-Aqsa Mosque.

He explained that Turkey implements its projects through institutions that operate effectively in Palestine, including Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency “TİKA”.

He said, “The TİKA Foundation in cooperation with the Islamic Waqf has coated the crescent on top of the Dome of the Rock with gold, in addition to the restoration of the archive room inside al-Aqsa Mosque, rebuilding of the Yusufiyah Cemetery and other projects carried out in cooperation with the Waqf”.

He added, “Our projects are not limited to al- Aqsa Mosque, but we have other projects in the Old City of Jerusalem that maintained historical landmarks.”

The Turkish ambassador pointed to the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs’ interest in the success of a major project, which is to send the Turkish visitors to the city of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, before they go to perform Umrah.

He pointed out that it is expected that the number of Turkish visitors to Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque during one year would reach up to 100 thousand, which helps to support and improve the tourism industry and the economic conditions of the Palestinians.(T/P008/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)