Israeli authorities to bring Palestinian supreme judge to court charged with praying in Al-Aqsa mosque without a permit

February 18, 2007

Jerusalem - Ma'an – The Israeli authorities have decided to bring the Palestinian supreme judge, Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi, to trial on Sunday 18th February 2007, in the Russian detention center in Jerusalem. The court accuses Sheikh Tamimi of inciting against Israel, entering the city of Jerusalem and praying in the Al-Aqsa mosque without an Israeli permit.

The office of the supreme judge issued a statement, saying that the supreme judge was supposed to appear in court on these charges last month, yet the trial was delayed.

Sheikh Tamimi himself commented on the issue saying, "This trial is merely political, since the Israel court has nothing to do with any affairs related to the Al-Aqsa mosque, or the city of Jerusalem, according to international treaties, namely the Fourth Geneva convention. That convention classifies the city of Jerusalem as "occupied territory", along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, to which Israeli legislations are inapplicable."

The decision to annex Jerusalem was contradictory to international laws, added Sheikh Tamimi. The Palestinian supreme judge stressed that it is his very right to enter the city of Jerusalem and pray in the Al-Aqsa mosque, "a right which I won't surrender to any force in the universe".

Update:

The trial of Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi, which was supposed to be held today.

At the request of his attorney, in a letter to the Israeli Attorney-General Menachem Mazzuz, the trial was postponed until the 8th of May.

The main arguments presented to Mazzuz were that the Sheikh is not a political person, yet is being charged with a political 'crime'. Also, included in the letter, was an appeal for the Sheikh to be treated with the same dignity as Jewish religious leaders.

Based on the letter, the court agreed to a postponement.