MAPIM CONDEMNS ISRAEL’S TAKEOVER OF IBRAHIMI MOSQUE ADMINISTRATION – URGES GLOBAL MUSLIM PROTEST

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 28th February 2025

Issued by: Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organizations (MAPIM)

The Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organizations (MAPIM) strongly condemns the latest move by the Israeli authorities to take over the administration of the Ibrahimi Mosque (Masjid Ibrahimi) in Hebron from the Islamic Waqf Ministry. This brazen act is yet another escalation in Israel’s systematic policy of erasing Islamic heritage and tightening its control over Palestinian religious sites.

A Grave Violation of Religious and Historical Rights

The Ibrahimi Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, has been under Muslim administration for centuries. The Israeli regime’s unilateral decision to seize control of the mosque’s management:

1. Violates international law and UNESCO resolutions that recognize the mosque as a Palestinian heritage site.
2. Infringes upon the religious rights of Muslims by imposing restrictions and increasing Israeli control over worship and access.
3. Accelerates the Judaization of Hebron, a city already heavily affected by illegal Israeli settler expansion and military occupation. A Dangerous Precedent for Al-Aqsa Mosque

This unlawful takeover sets a dangerous precedent for Israeli attempts to assert full control over other Islamic sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The continuous violations and provocations against Palestinian religious sites are a direct attack on the sanctity of Islamic heritage and an affront to 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide.

World Muslim Community Must Act Now

MAPIM calls upon:

1. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to urgently convene and take concrete action against this violation.
2. Muslim-majority governments to issue strong diplomatic protests and pressure international bodies to intervene.
3. The United Nations and UNESCO to condemn and reverse this illegal move.
4. Global Muslim communities to organize peaceful protests and awareness campaigns against this latest aggression. A Call for Immediate Action

MAPIM warns that continued Israeli aggression against Islamic holy sites will lead to heightened tensions and further instability in the region. The silence of the Muslim world is no longer an option—this is a test of our collective responsibility to defend our sacred sites from occupation and desecration.

We stand in unwavering solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters in their struggle to preserve their religious and cultural identity. The time to act is now.

Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President, MAPIM