Freeing Al-Quds

In the morning of August 21, 1969, a man set fire to the southern wing of Masjid al-Aqsa. The area, venerated by and known to Muslims as Haram as-Syarif or Noble Sanctuary, is the site that Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam visited on his night journey, from Masjid al-Haram in Mekah, before he ascended to the Heavens.

The fire destroyed a priceless one-thousand-year-old wood and ivory pulpit (mimbar). Stormy demonstrations by Palestinians and Muslims then broke out in the Arab sections of Al-Quds and in the territories. On August 23, 1969, Dennis Michael Rohan was arrested for arson, suspected of starting the fire. He was later hospitalised in a mental institution before being deported from the Israeli-occupied Palestine.

The Zionist Israel insisted that Rohan was nothing more than a deranged man, "an Australian Protestant follower of an evangelical sect known as the Church of God who said he tried to destroy Masjid al-Aqsa in order to rebuild the Jewish Temple on the site."

The Church had denied that Rohan was ever a member.

Muslims and Palestinians believe that Rohan could not have acted without the support of some Zionist elements. The Israeli forces cut off the water supply and obstructed the passage of fire engines, an act that could have only meant to create the worst of damage.

Following this desecration, leaders of the Muslim countries assembled and formed the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) "to rescue Al-Quds and Palestine." That was 41 years ago.

Nothing much has changed the Muslim's third holiest site remains under the occupation of Israeli forces.

Why, only last Friday, thousands and thousands of Muslims had to line up at West Bank checkpoints since very early morning, waiting to be granted access to Al-Quds for prayer on the second Friday of Ramadhan.

Those who made it through the West Bank separation fence were greeted by heavy Israeli military and police presence around the Old City.

This is not new.

The Zionist Israel has acted predictably restricting access to the Muslim holy site, granting permission for the construction of a large night club funded by an American porn magazine near the compound, continuing with the excavation as well as the building of tunnels underneath the compound that are calculated to bring destruction to Masjid al-Aqsa after some time. Many of the Muslim communities have also acted predictably with their short memory.

In 2004, the OIC held Israel responsible for guaranteeing the protection of the Islamic holy sites under its authority. In 2007, it declared the year between June 5, 2007, and June 5, 2008, as the year for saving Al-Quds and for developing an Islamic pact to support.

The organisation said the pact would make every Muslim individual responsible for setting Al-Quds free. Calling it Muslims' first cause, the organisation also declared the year to be one in which "all capabilities and events should be utilised.. Endeavours should be made to achieve this goal at all levels through political and other forms of struggle."

Words, words, words.

The Zionist entity is continuing on its merry ways, probably singing, "sticks and stones may break my bones but the Muslim world's words leave not a dent in my armour."