Muslim scholars demand uprising over US embassy opening in al-Quds

An international organization of Muslim scholars headquartered in Qatar has called for a “public and official uprising” against a recent decision by the United States to move its embassy to occupied al-Quds in May.

According to Press TV, Secretary General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Ali al-Qaradaghi, said in a statement on Sunday “We call for a Palestinian, Arab and Islamic uprising against this American aggression.”  

He added: “Al-Quds is the cause of [our Muslim] nation and abandoning it or changing its identity will be a disgrace.”

Qaradaghi further described the US decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to al-Quds as a “declaration of war on Muslims and a step to legitimize an illegitimate occupation.”

On Saturday, the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, strongly condemned the Washington’s move, terming it as “provocative” for all Muslim and Arab nations.

The measure to relocate the US embassy concurrent with the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe), when hundreds of Palestinians were forcibly evicted from their homeland by Israeli regime forces back in 1948, is a naked [act of] aggression against the Palestinian nation, the Hamas Spokesman, Abdullatif al-Qanou, told Press TV in an exclusive interview in Gaza City. 

He added, “It is also a provocative move against all Muslims and Arabs, and a clear attack against sites revered by both Muslims and Christians. Hamas believes that such a decision would fail to change the status quo of al-Quds.”

US State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Friday that Washington planned to open its embassy in al-Quds in May.

The occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed a new wave of tension ever since Trump announced his decision on December 6 last year to recognize al-Quds as Israel’s capital and relocate the US embassy in Tel Aviv to the occupied city.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s policy vis-à-vis the city triggered demonstrations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco and other Muslim countries.

ME