REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The upcoming APEC meet in Beijing is a good opportunity for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to voice Indonesia's stance regarding the Al-Aqsa violation case, the Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Slamet Effendy Yusuf, said.
"At the forum, President Jokowi will meet a number of leaders from major countries. It's a good chance to express Indonesia's stance regarding the Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem," Yusuf stated here on Friday.
Jokowi, as the president of the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, cannot stay silent and ignore the issue, he added.
He also reminded Jokowi of his promise to help free Palestine from the occupation of the Israeli Zionist regime.
Israel recently ordered a total closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is the third holiest shrine in Islam, the second ever mosque built, and the first Qibla (the direction that Muslims face while praying).
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.
Furthermore, women and children are arbitrarily denied entry into Al-Aqsa on a regular basis, which significantly violates the religious freedom of Palestinians.
Tensions escalated in occupied Jerusalem recently as Israeli authorities gave Jewish settlers the go-ahead to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, while continuing to deny access to Muslims to its plazas.
Palestinians are rightly concerned as the illegal settler groups that come to Al-Aqsa openly declare their intentions to occupy the mosque, demolish its structures, and build a Jewish temple in its place.
The Indonesian foreign affairs ministry recently issued a statement condemning Israel for closing 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 remarked.
The government has called the Israeli move a violation against human rights, particularly the religious freedom of all Muslims in Jerusalem, Palestine.
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