Israeli authorities detain imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri was picked up by Israeli intelligence from his home in East Jerusalem
JERUSALEM
Israeli intelligence officers on Friday detained Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the grand imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, from his home in East Jerusalem.
"A unit from the Israeli intelligence service raided the home of Sheikh [Ekrima] and informed him he is under arrest," a family member told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity.
He added that the imam was taken for interrogation in al-Qashla police station in West Jerusalem.
In January, the Israeli authorities decided to ban Sheikh Ekrima from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for four months.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, in which Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, during the 1967 Middle East war.
*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara
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