Turkish entrepreneurs perform Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa

By Eshat Firat

JERUSALEM (AA) - A delegation from MUSIAD, Turkey’s Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association, visited Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem on Friday, where delegation members performed Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

MUSIAD Chairman Abdurrahman Kaan told Anadolu Agency that the visit to the iconic mosque was intended to “show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers”.

Slamming Israel for its frequent violations against Palestinian Muslims in Jerusalem, Kaan said, “We stand up with our brothers; that's why we are here.”

“We have seen the violations firsthand and refuse to accept this tyranny against our first qibla,” he added in reference to the Al-Aqsa, which for Muslims represents the world’s third holiest site after Mecca and Medina.

“We must provide the drop of oil on the shore that will bring the Al-Aqsa Mosque from darkness and into the light and protect the values of our shared culture,” Kaan asserted, calling on Muslims around the world to visit the revered site.

Kaan also urged Muslim entrepreneurs to invest in the region with a view to creating employment opportunities for the Palestinian community.

Hundreds of Turkish businesspeople took part in Friday’s visit to the holy site.

Following recent clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex that left at least 20 people dead, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Muslims worldwide to visit the site and show their support for Jerusalem’s Palestinian Muslims.

*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara