CMP Action Alert: Lobby Attack on Al Aqsa Mosque
By Canadian Muslims for Palestine, March 14, 2010
Canadian Muslims For Palestine (CMP), a national grassroots educational organization, denounces in the harshest possible terms the storming of the Al Aqsa Mosque compound by members of the Israeli military on Sunday, March 7th.
The Al Aqsa Mosque Compound, also known as Haram al-Sharif or the Noble Sanctuary, houses Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. More than 200 Israeli forces and police stormed the compound early Sunday, March 7th, injuring at least 20 Palestinians who were among those protecting Al Aqsa from Jewish threats of takeover during the Jewish holiday of Purim, according to published reports. Soldiers used rubber-coated bullets and tear gas against the Palestinians. A 40-year-old woman, Fatima Al-Barsi, suffered a broken leg when Israeli soldiers attacked her as she was trying to enter the mosque, according to Maan News Agency.
American Muslims for Palestine stated that Israel had the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem nearly locked down since Friday, one day before the beginning of the Jewish Purim holiday. Israeli soldiers denied access to Al Aqsa to all but about 50 Palestinians.
Earlier Sunday, March 7th, Israeli police escorted four right-wing Israelis into the mosque compound, according to Maan News Agency. American Muslims for Palestine belives that Israel’s actions are designed to provoke violence and unrest among the Palestinian population. The actions are reminiscent of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to Al Aqsa in 2000. That provocation sparked the beginning of the second intifada. Sunday’s storming of the Al Aqsa compound is another example that Israel does not want peace.
CMP condemns the actions by the Israeli military and calls on Primer Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon to speak out against the actions of the Israeli military. CMP also calls upon worldwide faith leaders to condemn Israel for actions that prevent Palestinians from worshiping in Al Aqsa mosque.
TAKE ACTION
Call or e-mail the offices of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and tell them to hold Israel accountable in the areas of human rights and ensuring Palestinian access to Al Aqsa mosque.
Call upon the World Council of Religious Leaders and ask them to pressure Israel to cease actions designed to provoke violence.
TALKING POINTS
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees the freedom to practice religion
- Preventing Palestinians access to Al Aqsa deprives them of the basic right to worship
- Al Aqsa is sacred for more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the globe
- Storming the Al Aqsa compound is an inflammatory move, aimed at sparking violence
- The second intifada erupted in reaction to the controversial visit to the Al Aqsa compound made by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
- These actions will endanger the peace and stability in the region as well as globally
CONTACT
PRIME MINISTER
Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister
House of Commons
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 992-4211
Fax: (613) 941-6900
E-Mail: pm@pm.gc.ca OR Harper.S@parl.gc.ca
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 992-5516
Fax: (613) 992-6802
E-Mail: Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca
Canadian Muslims for Palestine (CMP)
Canadian Muslims for Palestine is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness for Jerusalem and its environs through spiritual, educational, political and social services programs based on the Islamic principles of social justice, self-reliance and human dignity.
Email: CMPalestine@CMPalestine.org
Website: http://www.cmpalestine.org