TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Muslim community held rallies in several regions in the country on Friday, July 21, to protest Israeli measures on Al Aqsa Mosque compound. The mosque is Islam’s third holiest site.

In Jakarta, a number of prominent Islamic scholars and preachers such as Bachtiar Nasir, Muhammad Arifin Ilham, and Nazar Haris participated in the rally.

Bachtiar Nasir said the rally was able to unite various groups in support of Al Aqsa. "Here, we want to show that we gather here as a pile of bricks for an Islamic building, and we hope this pile of bricks could become the power that we could use to free Al Aqsa," he remarked.

Read: Indonesia Condemns Al Aqsa Mosque Closure

Among mass organizations joining the protests were Al Azhar Islamic Boarding School Foundation, Aqsa Working Group, Aspac For Palestine, ACT, and many others. They consider Israel measures to tighten its grip on Al Aqsa as a violation of human rights.

In Solo, hundreds of people gathered in the Alliance of Surakarta Students and Youths Caring for Palestine, condemned Israel for committing crimes against humanity and hurting the sacredness of Al Aqsa, which is the first qibla (direction faced during prayers) of Muslims.

Restriction of access to Al Aqsa and violence against Palestinians is also hurting the feelings of Muslims all over the world, said Oman Rohman, coordinator of the rally in Tasikmalaya.

The rallies were organized in several Indonesian cities, namely Jakarta, Solo in Central Java, Tasikmalaya and Bandung in West Java, on Friday, July 21.

"We want to let our brothers and sisters in Palestine know that you are not alone," Gaos Abdul Hamid, spokesman for the Alliance of Community to Save Al Aqsa (AMSA), remarked.

The rallies were held as part of simultaneous protests dubbed "Day of Rage" held by Muslims all over the world after performing Friday mass prayers.

ANTARA