Muslim Association of Canada condemns restrictions on Al-Aqsa access
MAC stressed that ongoing shutdown of Al-Aqsa cannot be justified under security claims if it results in blanket exclusion of worshippers
TORONTO, Canada (MNTV) – The Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) has issued a condemnation of what it describes as prolonged closure and tightening restrictions on Masjid Al-Aqsa in occupied Jerusalem, warning that access to one of Islam’s holiest sites has been severely blocked for nearly 40 days.
In a statement, MAC accused Israeli authorities of preventing Muslim worshippers from entering the mosque compound, calling the restrictions a direct assault on religious freedom and a violation of the fundamental human right to worship.
The organization urged the Government of Canada to adopt what it called a clear and principled position, insisting that silence in the face of continued closure risks normalizing restrictions on sacred religious practice.
MAC stressed that the ongoing shutdown of Al-Aqsa cannot be justified under security claims if it results in blanket exclusion of worshippers from their place of prayer, describing the situation as deeply alarming and unprecedented in its duration.
The statement raised serious concern over actions of Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who reportedly entered the Al-Aqsa compound while Muslim worshippers remained barred from access. MAC described this as provocative and destabilizing.
The organization warned that reports of potential increased settler incursions into the mosque compound represent a dangerous escalation that could threaten the sanctity and integrity of the site.
Masjid Al-Aqsa holds immense religious and emotional significance for Muslims worldwide and is regarded as one of Islam’s most sacred sites, central to faith and identity across generations, according to MAC.
The organization pointed to international legal frameworks and United Nations resolutions that recognize the religious status and custodial arrangements of the site under Muslim religious authority, arguing that any disruption undermines established norms and fuels further tension.
MAC warned that continued restrictions and perceived violations of the mosque’s status risk deepening religious tensions and eroding protections for one of the most sensitive and contested holy sites in the world.
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