Jerusalem/Holy places – Letter from Jordan

Letter dated 4 April 1988 from the Permanent Representative of

Jordan to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to transmit herewith a letter addressed to you from Mr. Abdel-Aziz al-Khayat, Minister of Waqfs and Islamic Affairs, concerning the flagrant acts of provocation and repression which the Israeli occupation forces have committed recently against Islamic holy places and Muslim religious leaders.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter and its annex circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under item 77 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Abdullah SALAH

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

____________

* A/43/50.

ANNEX

Letter dated 3 April 1988 from the Minister of Waqfs and

Islamic Affairs addressed to the Secretary-General

You are aware that the great Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Islamic holy places in general have been subjected to all kinds of attacks since the Zionist occupation forces entered Jerusalem in 1967, the goal being to destroy the Islamic sanctuary there and to erect the so-called "Temple" on its ruins, thereby effacing every trace of Islamic heritage and Judaizing the city. The racist occupation authorities have recently stepped up their acts of aggression, using as their pretext the widespread uprising launched by the inhabitants of the occupied territories in order to put an end to the bitter sufferings which they have to endure at the hands of the occupation forces and the settlers. Using that uprising as a pretext, the occupier engages in systematic and flagrant acts of provocation and repression against Islamic holy places and Muslim religious leaders, attacking the mosques many times and arresting dozens of imams. On 1 April 1988, after the Friday prayers, the Israeli troops attacked the President of the Supreme Islamic Commission and the Council for Waqfs and Islamic Affairs, who is the Mufti of Jerusalem, the leading Islamic figure and the head of the ulema in the occupied territories. This act of aggression represents the most serious violation of religious and human values and of the resolutions of international organizations ever committed by the occupation authorities.

I request you to take such steps as you deem necessary in order to denounce these barbarous and flagrant acts of aggression against Islamic holy places and Muslim religious leaders, and to do all in your power to put an end to such acts.

(Signed) Abdel-Aziz AL-KHAYAT

Minister of Waqfs and Islamic Affairs