Al-Aqsa mosque Imam arrested for paying tribute to Ismail Haniyeh

Al-Aqsa mosque Imam Sheikh Ekrima Sabri paid price of paying tribute to martyred Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during the Friday sermon as he was arrested by Israeli authorities.

The 85-year-old called Haniyeh a “martyr” in his sermon at the mosque in Israeli occupied east Jerusalem, his lawyer said.

The prominent Hamas leader was martyred in Tehran in early hours of Wednesday, with Iran and Palestinian group blaming Israel for the attack.

Israel has not commented on Haniyeh’s death.

“(Sabri) is currently in Al-Maskobiya (police compound) under investigation on suspicion of inciting terrorism, because he mourned Ismail Haniyeh during the Friday sermon and described him as a martyr,” his lawyer Hamza Qatina said.

Israeli police also confirming the arrest said that they are investigating whether Sabri’s words contained incitement to violence.

The imam was arrest from his residence in al-Sawana neighborhood in Al-Quds.