Grand mufti of Al-Quds mosque, the third holiest place of Islam in the world, has appealed to the Indian Government and the people to continue their traditional support to the cause of liberation of Palestine from Israeli occupation.
Grand mufti Muhammed AM Hussain who was on a visit to Hyderabad along with a Palestinian delegation, in a Press conference, warned the very existence of Al-Quds mosque is in danger as Israel is trying to demolish it by undertaking excavation beneath the structure and also desecrating it.
“Israel is trying to divide the Al-Quds mosque and change the character of Jerusalem by giving the Jewish names to its streets and places. Not a day passes without Jewish settlers and Army personnel violating the sanctity of the mosque to eventually take full control of the mosque”, the grand mufti said.
“But our people are there to resist and oppose any such move,” he said urging the international community to come out against Israel’s plans.Pointing out that the suffering of the Palestinians is getting worse by the day, the grand mufti said that the support and solidarity of Indian people was needed much more than ever before.
“We hope that the traditional support and solidarity of Indian people will continue for the total liberation of Palestine with Jerusalem as capital. Jerusalem is the heart of Palestine and third holiest place of Islam and was also important for Christians,” he said.Palestinian Member of Parliament, Andullah MI Abdullah, exuded confidence that the new Government in India will continue to be supportive of Palestinian cause, which was the corner stone of Indian foreign policy since the days of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru.
“Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas had congratulated Narendra Modi when he was a Prime Minister designate,” he said.When asked whether there was any apprehension among the Palestinians regarding the support of India under the new Government, Abdullah said that India is a sovereign country to decide its policy. “We hope that India’s stand will continue to be based on values and not only on interests,” he said.
At the same time he pointed out that the movement of boycotting Israeli products is increasing throughout the world.
“Presbyterian church of USA has decided to divest from the Israeli companies and the occupied territories. Similarly, two top most of American Universities — University of California and University of Chicago — are also boycotting the products from the occupied territories as they were coming from the stolen water and lands. Bill Gates has decided to divest from the occupied territories companies,” he said urging the Indian people to join the boycott movement.
On the other hand he rued that the United States was not at all neutral and continues to shun away from criticising Israel.
Syed Viqaruddin, Chairman of Indo-Arab league said that his organisation is going to invite the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Hyderabad and ask him to spell out India ‘s stand on the issue of Palestine. He said that Indo-Arab league has been organising such meetings and campaigning for the rights of Palestinian for nearly four decades and all the Foreign Ministers of India from Swaran Singh to Salman Khursheed had attended its meetings to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The organisation has been planning to hold a big international conference on Palestine in Hyderabad in November with participation from several Arab and Islamic countries.