Muslim scholars union 'strongly condemned' Israeli settlers for ripping up Quran

By Hacer Baser

ISTANBUL (AA) - The International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS) “strongly condemned” Friday the ripping up of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, by Israeli settlers who vandalized a mosque in the town of Urif in the occupied West Bank.

“This barbaric and disgraceful act” was a clear attack on the sacred values ​​of Islam and targeted the feelings of all Muslims around the world, said the Doha-based union.

Turkish Foreign Ministry also condemned the incident on Thursday and expressed concern regarding renewed tensions in the region in recent days.

“We condemn the attack perpetrated by a group of Jewish settlers on our holy book, the Quran, by entering a mosque in the town of Urif, located in the Palestinian territories under Israeli occupation,” it said.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns.

Nearly 180 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. At least 25 Israelis have also been killed in separate attacks during the same period.

Estimates indicate 700,000 settlers are living in 164 settlements and 116 outposts in the occupied West Bank.

Under international law, all Jewish settlements in the occupied territories are considered illegal.