The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned an attack on worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque by forces of the far-right Israeli government last night, the first night of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Video shows Israeli forces beating worshippers as they tried to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, one of Islam’s holiest sites. Israeli forces reportedly prevented them from participating in prayers at the mosque. They also reportedly arrested 20 people.
SEE: Israeli forces attack Muslim worshippers at al-Aqsa during first night of Ramadan | Middle East Eye
SEE ALSO: Navigating Israeli Restrictions, Many Palestinians Find It Hard to Reach Al Aqsa – NY Times
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“Not even in this sacred month of peace and prayer does the genocidal Israeli government give any respite to the Palestinian people, whether in Gaza or the West Bank.
“Ramadan after Ramadan, the Israeli government’s occupation forces desecrate Al-Aqsa Mosque and beat unarmed, innocent civilians seeking to enter the site for prayer, leading to wider conflict.
“The barbarism and inhumanity of this far-right government is now clear to the entire world. When will it be clear to our own government? When will we stop bankrolling the slaughter of innocent people, including thousands of children? When will we stop providing cover for the genocide of a people?
“The Biden administration must change course now and demand an immediate ceasefire and hold the Israeli government to account before it launches more attacks on this and other sacred sites.”
He noted that last week, CAIR responded to President Biden’s State of the Union Address by welcoming improvement in his rhetoric about Palestinian suffering in Gaza but said that the president “must stop trying to play both firefighter and arsonist” by sending aid while enabling the Israeli government’s genocidal military campaign.
SEE: CAIR Responds to SOTU: President ‘Must Stop Playing Both Firefighter and Arsonist’ in Gaza
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com