Police briefly detain al-Aska imam for alleged 'incitement'

In his sermon, the preacher denounced Jewish tours of the Temple Mount and urged Muslims to be present at the site during Pessah to foil such visits.

Border Police officers patrol Temple Mount (photo credit: REUTERS)
Border Police officers patrol Temple Mount
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Jerusalem Police on Friday briefly detained Sheikh Mohamed Salim, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, following Friday prayers.
Sheikh Salim was detained as he was leaving the Temple Mount, eyewitnesses said. He was interrogated for incitement during the sermon he delivered, according to the Jerusalem Police.
In his sermon, the preacher denounced Jewish tours of the Temple Mount and urged Muslims to be present at the site during Pessah to foil such visits.
The dentition of the preacher drew sharp criticism from the Palestinian Authority and Jordan.
The PA said that the detention of the preacher was a “dangerous precedent and an intervention in the religious affairs of Muslims.”
The Jordanian government, which controls the Wakf (Islamic Trust) Department in east Jerusalem, denounced the detention as “unacceptable.” It said that the detention of the preacher was an Israeli intervention on the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and a aviation of international laws.”