Religious Affairs Minister Urges OIC to Convene over Al Aqsa
25 July 2017 08:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin has urged the UN Security Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene over the blockade of Al Aqsa Mosque by Israel.
"The UN Security Council and OIC shall immediately convene to stop Israelis actions at Al Aqsa Mosque," Lukman said in a written statement received by Antara news agency in Jakarta on Monday.
He said that the situation at Al Aqsa compound has worsened in the past few days.
Read: Indonesia Urges Granting of Worship Rights in Al Aqsa
The Religious Affairs Minister said that all parties should refrain from violence, adding that the Al Aqsa holy site should be kept away from any forms of violence.
"Everyone should be given the right to pray in houses of prayers. No one should be restricted from doing so," he said.
The Indonesian Foreign Minister on Saturday phoned US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, asking the latter to urge Israel to stop restricting prayers and demand de-escalation of the conflict over Al Aqsa Mosque.
FM Retno said he was very concerned over deteriorating situation at Al Aqsa compound. Indonesia has condemned Israel for killing three young Palestinian men. She stressed the importance of swift actions to address violence and tensions in the region.
ANTARA