"SAVE AL AQSA" RALLIES STAGED IN JAKARTA, MATARAM, BATAM by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 17, 2014 (Antara) - At least three rallies protesting against Israeli violations and violence at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem were staged in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta, Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara) and Batam (Riau Islands) on November 16.

        Indonesian Muslims are very concerned about the situation related to Al Aqsa Mosque, with radical Jewish settlers, under the protection of heavily-armed Israeli officers, often breaking into the premises.

        The Jewish extremists caused damages inside Al Aqsa, and Israeli security officers blocked all Muslims from praying in the ancient mosque, which is Islam's third-most sacred place of worship after Masjidil Haram in Mecca and Nabawi Mosque in Medina.

        Al Aqsa is also the second mosque to ever be built on earth and the first qibla (the direction they face while praying) of Muslims.

         A "Save Palestine" rally was participated in by more than one thousand protesters grouped together as the National Committee for Palestinian People (KNRP) in front of the U. S. embassy in Jakarta on Sunday (November 16), Republika Daily reported.

        They condemned the Israeli regime for violating Muslims' basic right to pray in the holy mosque and for their violence against Palestinian people.

        "We demand that the United Nations take firm actions against the human rights violations and take Israeli leaders to international court," KNRP spokesman Zakaria was quoted as saying by Republika.

        The protesters also urged the Indonesian government to help stop the violations in Al Aqsa Mosque by conducting firm and directed diplomatic measures in line with the Indonesian Constitution, which upholds the values of humanity.

        The peaceful rally before the U. S. embassy was heavily contained by some 400 police officers equipped with two water cannons.

   
   Batam:
   In Batam, Riau Islands, hundreds of Muslims staged a rally to protest against Israeli violations on Al Aqsa and organized fund raisers to aid Palestinian people.

          "Al Aqsa Mosque was attacked by Zionists. Every Muslim must fight to save it," the Chairman of the KNRP chapter in Batam, Bachtiar, said.

        The rally was also participated in by members and supporters of mass organizations such as the FPI, Muhammadiyah, NU, HMI, KAMMI, and the Riau Islands Mosque Imam Association.

       In addition, a number of children and youths staged a theatrical drama depicting how Muslims were barred from praying inside the holiest mosque. At the end, they set an Israeli flag on fire to demonstrate their resistance against the Zionist occupiers.

         Similar rallies participated in by some three thousand people were held in the districts of Karimun, Tanjungpinang, and Bintan in Riau Islands, according to Bachtiar.

        "We urge President Joko Widodo to meet the promise he made related to Palestine during his pre-election presidential campaign. He had said that he would help free Palestine," he pointed out.    
   Furthermore, Riki Indrakari, a legislator of Batam, opined that President Jokowi should call on the world community to recognize a fully-independent Palestine.

         "The president will have our support if he seriously takes that step. It is time for Palestine to be a sovereign nation," the local MP stated.

       
    Mataram:
   The KNRP chapter in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and the International Alliance for Al Aqsa (AIA) condemned Israel for its aggression against worshipers in Al Aqsa in their joint "Save Al Aqsa" rally organized in front of the office of the NTB governor in Mataram on November 16.

         Some 250 people participated in the rally that called on Indonesian people to show their solidarity to Palestine.

         "It's our obligation as Indonesian Muslims to defend the sanctity of Al Aqsa from the aggression of Israeli Zionist occupiers. Moral and material support from Indonesians are needed to help free Palestinian people," Sri Bintoro, a local education expert, emphasized.

        Israel has violated the basic rights of Palestinian Muslims by restricting and even blocking them from praying at Al Aqsa, he added.

         "Every Muslim on earth must join hands to help free Palestinians from Israeli occupation," he stated.

         Moreover, the Chairman of the KNRP chapter in NTB, Ahmad Muchlis, noted that as the largest Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia must take a firm stance against Israeli hostility against Palestinian people and the Al Aqsa Mosque.

         Indonesia must play an active role in preventing Israel's attempt to destroy Al Aqsa, he added.

        What Israel has done in Al Aqsa is a disaster for humanity and could threaten world peace and harmony. Therefore, Indonesia and the international community should not stay idle.

         He urged the UN to sanction Israel and take Israeli leaders to international court for the human right violations committed in Palestine.

          "Palestinian people need our support for freedom and to save Al Aqsa from Israel. We in NTB stand united for the freedom of Palestine," Muchlis remarked. 
    Earlier, the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry issued a statement condemning Israel for barring access to the Al Aqsa Mosque.

        "Indonesia strongly condemns Israel's move to bar access to the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. We demand that Israel immediately reopen the mosque," the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated. 
    The government called the Israeli move a violation of human rights, particularly the religious freedom of all Muslims in Jerusalem, Palestine.

          Among the restrictions imposed by the Israeli Zionist regime on Palestinian Muslims visiting Al Aqsa so far includes barring the entry of all men aged 50 and below.

           Women and children were arbitrarily denied entry into Al Aqsa on a regular basis, which significantly violated the religious freedom of Palestinians.

         However, last Friday (November 14), thousands of Muslim worshipers were able to perform their Friday prayers at the mosque after Israeli occupation forces lifted the age restrictions they had imposed for a very long time. ***1***
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