The joint statement highlights multiple incidents, such as the ban on Muslim worshipers entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Palestinians perform Friday prayers on the streets of East Jerusalem on March 27, 2026 as Israeli forces continue to impose restrictions on Palestinians from entering the Dome of the Rock at Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. PHOTO: ANADOLU
Pakistan, along with seven other Muslim countries, has strongly condemned ongoing Israeli restrictions on the freedom of worship of Muslims and Christians in occupied Jerusalem, particularly measures preventing Muslim worshipers from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
A joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar said the countries “condemn, in the strongest terms, and reject the continued restrictions imposed by Israel on the freedom of worship of Muslims and Christians in occupied Jerusalem,” the statement shared on X read.
🔊PR No.8️⃣4️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Joint statement on Israel’s continued restrictions on the freedom of worship of Christians and Muslims
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 31, 2026
The ministers noted multiple incidents, including a ban on Muslim worshipers entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and restrictions on Christian clergy seeking access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, including during key religious celebrations such as Palm Sunday.
They described these actions as “a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law,” as well as a violation of the legal and historical status quo, highlighting that they violate “the unrestricted right of access to places of worship.”
The ministers also expressed concern about attempts to alter long-standing agreements governing religious sites in Jerusalem, stating that they “renewed their condemnation and rejection of any Israeli attempt to alter the legal and historical status quo at Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.”
They reiterated their “absolute rejection of the illegal and restrictive Israeli measures against Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem” and stressed that Israel, “as the occupying Power, has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem.”
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Particular concern was expressed about the closure of the doors of the Al-Aqsa Mosque for an extended period, including during Ramadan. The ministers said the move “constitutes a serious violation of international law… and of Israel’s obligations as an occupying Power,” warning of “the dangers of these escalated measures to regional and international peace and security.”
Reaffirming the religious status of the site, the statement noted that “the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif area… is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims,” adding that the Jordanian Waqf authorities retain jurisdiction over its administration.
The ministers called on Israel to “immediately cease the closure of the doors of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, remove access restrictions in the Old City of Jerusalem and refrain from obstructing access to Muslim worshipers.”
They also urged the international community to take a firm stance to force Israel to stop what they described as ongoing violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
