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The Jerusalem Post

Israel Police arrest al-Aqsa sheikh for incitement after eulogizing Ismail Haniyeh

 
 Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, sits in his living room after an interview with Reuters in Jerusalem, February 21, 2024.  (photo credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, sits in his living room after an interview with Reuters in Jerusalem, February 21, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)

Since October 7, 140 indictments have been filed against those accused of inciting and supporting terrorism in the Jerusalem area.

Following statements made by the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Ekrima Sa'id Sabri, regarding Hamas's former political bureau head Ismail Haniyeh during the noon prayer on the Temple Mount on Friday, Israel Police arrested him for incitement, according to a police statement.

Jerusalem police opened an investigation into suspected incitement and support for terrorism following the eulogy.

Sabri is accused of eulogizing the "martyr" Ismail Haniyeh and asking for "mercy and heaven" for him during his sermon at al-Aqsa Mosque.

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Haniyeh was killed in an assassination in Tehran last week.

The Jerusalem district police arrived at the home of the Sabri in east Jerusalem before he was subsequently transferred to the Jerusalem District Police for questioning.

 Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, Former Palestinian mufti of Jerusalem, holds a press conference at the Palestinian embassy in Tehran 29 April 2001. (credit: BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, Former Palestinian mufti of Jerusalem, holds a press conference at the Palestinian embassy in Tehran 29 April 2001. (credit: BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)

A regular at the station

This is not the first time that Sabri has been questioned by the police on suspicion of incitement.

Recently, the state attorney's office filed an indictment against Sabri after he incited terrorism and praised terrorists.


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On the same day, Jerusalem and Border Police arrested another suspect for incitement to terrorism during Friday's prayer on the Temple Mount. The suspect, an Old City resident in his 20s, was transferred to the Old City police for questioning.

Since October 7, 140 indictments have been filed against those accused of inciting and supporting terrorism in the Jerusalem area.

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Among them are also a number of preachers in mosques who were investigated and accused after using their sermons to voice incitement and support for terrorism and terrorists.

"We take seriously any exploitation of prayer and religious institutions to incite and support terrorism and terrorists. The Israel Police will continue to act with determination and zero tolerance against instigators and supporters of terrorism, whoever they are and wherever they are," the Jerusalem Police said after the arrest.

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