IMMEDIATE ACTIONS ON THE CRITICAL STATUS OF AL-AQSA AND ISRAEL’S DEATH PENALTY LAW AGAINST PALESTINIAN DETAINEES

Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia (Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations) – MAPIM
Space U8 , Eco Mall , Bukit Jelutong , Shah Alam , Selangor Malaysia
azmiabdulhamid58@gmail.com
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Press Release
2nd April 2026

The situation has reached a dangerous point. Eight Muslim-majority countries have already condemned Israel’s restrictions on worship at Al-Aqsa, including the closure of its gates during Ramadan, while Israel’s Knesset passed a new law on March 30, 2026 enabling the death penalty for Palestinians in cases framed as terrorism. The UN human rights chief has called the law discriminatory and contrary to international law.

1. Immediate diplomatic protest

Malaysia, OIC member states, and concerned governments should issue coordinated official condemnations within 24 hours. The protest should address two urgent matters together:
● the continued assault on freedom of worship at Al-Aqsa, and
● the death penalty law targeting Palestinian detainees.

The message must be clear: Al-Aqsa’s legal and historical status must be respected, and the new law must be repealed immediately.

2. Emergency OIC and Arab-Islamic coordination

An emergency ministerial meeting should be convened immediately to form a united response.

The existing joint condemnation by Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Turkiye, Pakistan, and Indonesia provides a foundation for a broader collective position. Malaysia should openly support and strengthen this bloc.

3. Urgent UN intervention

A formal complaint should be submitted without delay to the UN Secretary-General, the UN Human Rights Council, OHCHR, and the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of religion, extrajudicial executions, and the occupied Palestinian territory.

This should request urgent review of both the closure and access restrictions at Al-Aqsa, and the discriminatory death penalty law. Reuters reported the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called the law incompatible with Israel’s legal obligations and urged its repeal.

4. ICC and legal escalation

International legal bodies and rights organizations should be urged to examine whether the law amounts to persecution, denial of due process, and unlawful punishment under occupation.

Human Rights Watch said the wording makes clear it would primarily, if not exclusively, apply to Palestinians, while Reuters reported concerns tied to military court procedures and due process.

5. Protection of detainees

The ICRC, UN agencies, and international human rights groups should be pressed to establish urgent monitoring of Palestinian detainees, especially those at risk under the new law.

This is even more urgent in light of recent reporting on abuse and deaths in detention.

6. Global mosque and civil society mobilization

Mosques, scholars, NGOs, youth bodies, and humanitarian organizations should launch:
● a synchronized Friday khutbah theme on Al-Aqsa and the sanctity of life
● peaceful nationwide assemblies and vigils
● a global petition demanding repeal of the law and restoration of unrestricted worship access
● coordinated media briefings and op-eds in major international outlets

This is important because the crisis is no longer only local. It concerns freedom of worship, discriminatory law, and the normalization of occupation-based punishment.

7. Pressure on Israel’s allies

Governments with influence over Israel should be pressed to publicly oppose the law and demand restoration of access to Al-Aqsa.

International criticism has already come from UN officials, rights groups, and European actors, which means coordinated pressure is possible now, not later.

8. Public narrative and media response

A rapid media strategy is needed to frame this correctly:
●Al-Aqsa restrictions are a violation of religious freedom
●Israel has no sovereign right over occupied East Jerusalem’s holy sites
●The death penalty law is discriminatory and escalatory
● Silence will embolden wider violations

This framing is supported by the joint statement of the eight countries, which rejected attempts to alter the legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem and emphasized that Israel, as occupying power, has no sovereignty there.

Priority timeline

Within 24 hours

●Issue a joint condemnation
●Deliver protest notes to UN and key embassies
●Launch emergency media statement
●Call for special OIC consultation

Within 72 hours

● Submit legal memoranda to OHCHR and UNHRC
● Begin coordinated mosque and NGO mobilization
● Request urgent detainee monitoring by ICRC and rights bodies

Within 7 days

●Organize an international roundtable or emergency conference
●Publish a legal brief on Al-Aqsa and the death penalty law
●Launch a sustained international advocacy campaign

Core demand

1. Open Al-Aqsa fully to worshippers.
2. Repeal the discriminatory death penalty law.
3. Protect Palestinian detainees.
4. Hold Israel accountable under international law. Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
   Presiden MAPIM
   Presiden Malaysian Global Coalition in Support of Al Quds and Palestine

Datuk Seri Syekh Ahmad Awang
Chairman Alliance of World Mosques in Defence of Al Aqsa ( MANAR )

Dato’ Wira ( Dr ) Syekh Abdul Ghani Samsudin
Chairman Secretariate Ulama Assembly of Asia