Peaceful assembly to protest Israel's violence in Al-Aqsa

Over 300 people participated in a peaceful assembly in Jalan Tun Razak here today, to protest against Israel's latest act of violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The campaign, 'Selamatkan AlQuds' was participated by 21 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the Malaysian Islamic Organisations Consultative Council (Mapim) and Muslim Care Malaysia.

The gathering started at 2pm from the Tabung Haji building to the United States Embassy but the participants were not allowed to gather in front of the embassy.

Mapim president Azmi Abdul Hamid said as a result, he handed over a memorandum protesting the Israeli violence to the embassy via a security guard.

Meanwhile in Kelantan, the state UMNO Youth and PAS Youth also held similar assemblies at separate locations near the Muhammadi Mosque after Friday prayers.

About 400 people participated in the two assemblies.

On July 16, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia strongly condemned Israel over its closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

According to news reports, Israeli police cancelled Friday prayers at the mosque after three Palestinians and two Israeli police officers were killed in a gun-battle in the mosque compound.

Al Jazeera, the independent news channel in the Arab world, reported that following the incident, Israeli police cleared the Al-Aqsa Mosque and closed it to the public.

-- BERNAMA