Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, head of the Higher Islamic Council in Occupied Jerusalem, has strongly warned of a new Israeli draft law that seeks to restrict and potentially ban the Adhan — the sacred Islamic call to prayer — across Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories of 1948.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Sheikh Sabri firmly rejected any Israeli interference in Islamic worship, declaring the Adhan a “purely Islamic religious ritual” that no occupying or non-Muslim authority has any right to regulate, restrict, or prohibit.

“The Adhan has echoed from the minarets of Al-Aqsa Mosque for more than 15 centuries,” Sheikh Sabri emphasized. He recalled its profound historical roots, noting that Bilal ibn Rabah, the companion of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), gave the call to prayer at Al-Aqsa in the presence of Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab in the year 15 AH (636 CE).

Sheikh Sabri stressed that the Adhan is an inseparable part of the five daily prayers, a divine obligation enshrined in Islamic faith. He asserted that Israeli attempts to suppress this sacred practice are doomed to fail and will never erase the deep spiritual connection between Muslims and their holy sites in occupied Palestine.

This latest Israeli bill represents yet another chapter in the systematic campaign to Judaize Jerusalem, erase Palestinian and Islamic identity, and desecrate the religious freedoms of millions of Muslims. For decades, Israeli authorities have imposed restrictions on the Adhan under various pretexts, part of a broader effort to control, diminish, and ultimately displace the indigenous Muslim presence at Al-Aqsa Mosque and across occupied East Jerusalem.

Sheikh Sabri’s firm warning serves as a powerful reminder of Palestinian Muslim resilience in the face of occupation. Despite repeated attacks on their holy sites, worshippers, and religious practices, the Palestinian people remain steadfast in defending Al-Aqsa and preserving their Islamic rituals that have defined Jerusalem for centuries.

The international community must recognize these provocations for what they are: direct assaults on religious freedom and an integral part of Israel’s illegal occupation and apartheid policies. Attempts to silence the Adhan will only strengthen Muslim determination to protect their sacred rights in the land of Palestine. (ILKHA)