Indonesia and Muslim Nations Condemn Al-Aqsa Closure During Ramadan

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia, alongside several Arab and Muslim-majority countries, has strongly denounced Israel’s decision to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound throughout Ramadan, barring worshippers from performing religious rites at one of Islam’s holiest sites.

The condemnation was delivered in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, published by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on social media platform X.

“The ministers firmly reject and strongly condemn this illegal and unjustifiable measure, as well as Israel’s provocative actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and against worshippers,” the statement read, as quoted by Antara.

They stressed that Israel holds no sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem or its sacred sites, whether Islamic or Christian. The ministers further argued that restricting access to Jerusalem’s Old City and its places of worship constitutes a grave violation of international law, humanitarian law, and the historic and legal status quo governing religious access.

The statement reaffirmed that the entire Al-Aqsa compound is a place of worship for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Waqf Department -- under Jordan’s Ministry of Waqf and Islamic Affairs -- remains the legitimate authority with exclusive rights to administer the mosque, including regulating entry.

The ministers urged Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately reopen Al-Aqsa’s gates, lift restrictions on entry to the Old City, and cease obstructing Muslim worshippers. They also called on the international community to take decisive action to halt Israel’s violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

According to Palestinian news agency WAFA, the closure has continued for 11 consecutive days as of Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Israel has justified the move on security grounds, citing tensions with Iran.

The ongoing shutdown, which has extended into the final days of Ramadan, marks a dangerous precedent. For the first time since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Muslims have been prevented from performing tarawih prayers and i’tikaf inside Al-Aqsa Mosque. ***