Symbolic Protest at Fatih Mosque in Istanbul in Solidarity with the Closed Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, witnessed a striking symbolic event coinciding with the observance of Laylat al-Qadr, where a group of women threw their hijabs and head coverings over the male worshippers in the lower courtyard of the mosque. This act was an expression of protest and popular anger against the continued closure of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem and the prevention of worshippers from accessing it.

The head coverings that were thrown carried written messages with sharp phrases emphasizing that 'Al-Aqsa Mosque is the honor of Muslims' and calling for its protection from the occupation's measures. This symbolic initiative is based on a historical legacy dating back to the time of Saladin al-Ayyubi, when a woman threw her head covering to rouse spirits and protest the Crusaders' control over the holy city at that time.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation authorities continue their siege of Al-Aqsa Mosque for the nineteenth consecutive day, announcing a ban on prayers there under the pretext of 'security conditions.' Sources in the Jerusalem Waqf reported that the occupation police officially informed them of the extension of the closure decision until the end of Eid al-Fitr, depriving thousands of Palestinians from performing I'tikaf and prayers in their holiest site.

This closure was accompanied by a widespread escalation on the ground in occupied Jerusalem, where occupation forces transformed the Old City and its surroundings into a heavily fortified military barracks. Occupation security sources intensified their restrictions in the Al-Rashidiya School courtyard, while the steadfast worshippers insist on performing their prayers at the mosque's thresholds and in nearby streets, rejecting the policy of forced closure.

The repressive measures were not limited to Al-Aqsa Mosque but also extended to preventing citizens from performing Tarawih prayers in various neighborhoods of Jerusalem, especially in the Bab al-Amoud and Bab al-Sahira areas. Occupation forces forced worshippers to leave public squares under threat, in a clear attempt to dismantle any religious or national gatherings during the last days of the blessed month of Ramadan.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the honor of Muslims, protect it.