We, the undersigned Masajid across Leicester, express our deep concern regarding the ongoing closure of Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem during much of the blessed month of Ramadan, the Eid festival, and beyond.
On 28 February 2026, Israeli forces entered the Al-Aqsa sanctuary and imposed a complete closure under the pretext of war.
These developments represent a serious violation of the longstanding status quo and raise grave concerns regarding the protection of freedom of worship at one of Islam’s holiest sanctuaries.
Masjid Al-Aqsa holds immense religious, historical, and cultural significance for Muslims worldwide and remains central to Palestinian religious life and identity. We are deeply troubled by what appears to be a continuing pattern of escalating restrictions on Palestinians. This is occurring alongside a number of alarming developments, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the increasing isolation of Jerusalem from the Palestinian community, the usurpation of administrative authority over the Ibrahimi Masjid in Al-Khalil (Hebron), and public statements by certain political and ideological figures in Israel advocating the abolition of the status quo and changes to the existing structures at the Al-Aqsa sanctuary.
The United Kingdom has consistently maintained that East Jerusalem constitutes occupied territory under international law. In this context, preventing worshippers from accessing their holy sites raises serious concerns under international legal frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirms the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to manifest religion in worship and practice.
Furthermore, longstanding administrative arrangements recognise the authority of the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Masjid Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, as the legal body responsible for administering the affairs of Masjid Al-Aqsa and regulating entry to the sanctuary. Any actions that undermine this framework risk destabilising the delicate arrangements that have historically preserved relative calm at this sacred site.
We therefore call on the United Kingdom Government to take clear and principled action. In particular, we urge the Government to:
Call for the immediate reopening of Masjid Al-Aqsa and the removal of all restrictions preventing Palestinian worshippers from accessing the sanctuary.
Uphold and protect the historic status quo governing Masjid Al-Aqsa.
Signatory Masajid
Abu Hurairah
Al Ehsaan Academy
Al Ma’rifah Academy
Al Manaar academy
Baitul Mukarram Masjid
Beaumont Leys Masjid
Darul Arqam Educational Trust
Darul Ihsaan
Darul Sunnah Muslim Welfare House
Darus Salam Masjid
Jame Masjid
Leicester Central Mosque
Leicester Mosque Sutherland Street
Leicester Turkish Community Saffron lane
Majlise Dawatul Haq
Markfield Mosque
Masjid Adam (AS)
Masjid Aisha
Masjid Al Amin - Oadby Central Mosque
Masjid al Khaleel
Masjid AlAnsar
Masjid Ali Charitable Trust
Masjid An Noor
Masjid At-Taqwa
Masjid e Abdullah Ibn Masud r.d
Masjid furqan
Masjid Mu'adh Ibn Jabal
Masjid Muhammad
Masjid Noorul Islam
Masjid Umar
Masjid-ul-Imam-il-Bukhari
Taybah
The Peace Centre
