Israeli authorities detain imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Sheikh Ekrima Sabri was picked up by Israeli intelligence from his home in East Jerusalem

By Abdelraouf Arna'out

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli intelligence officers on Friday detained Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the grand imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, from his home in East Jerusalem.

"A unit from the Israeli intelligence service raided the home of Sheikh [Ekrima] and informed him he is under arrest," a family member told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity.

He added that the imam was taken for interrogation in al-Qashla police station in West Jerusalem.

In January, the Israeli authorities decided to ban Sheikh Ekrima from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for four months.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, in which Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, during the 1967 Middle East war.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara

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