Top Palestinian Religous Figure Detained

Top Palestinian Religous Figure Detained, Questioned by Israeli Police
Mufti Office Sources Describe His Arrest as ‘Dangerous Escalation’

The Islamic Fatwa office in occupied east Jerusalem condemned the questioning of the Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine Sheikh Ikrima Sabri Tuesday at the Israeli police headquarters in Jerusalem, describing the arrest as a “dangerous escalation” and an “attack” against Muslim figures and representatives.

The Israeli police claimed the Mufti was questioned because of his alleged connection with an investigation into officials of Israel’s Islamic Movement, whose leader Raed Salah was arrested last May.

The Mufti office spokesman ‘Abada Sabri described the questioning of the Mufti as an “attack against the Palestinian people’s religious and political symbols.”

“The investigation is a violation of the national, religious rights… [And is an attack] against the Islamic religious sites in occupied east Jerusalem,” he added.

Sabri was called for police questioning Sunday; he arrived at police headquarters Tuesday accompanied by lawyers.

The Mufti has for several years cooperated with the Israeli Islamic Movement, headed by Sheikh Ra’ad Salah, particularly in matters related to Islam’s third holiest site: the Al-Aqsa mosque.

So far, Israeli police have questioned some twenty Islamic Movement activists, headed by Salah and Umm al-Fahm mayor Suliman Agabriya.

The men are charged with transferring funds to Palestinian factions in the occupied territory.

However, the movement’s leader denied the charges saying that their funds were transferred to Palestinian families who became homeless after Israeli occupation troops demolished their houses.

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