The International Jerusalem Institution decided to move its operations to Istanbul after the war made it impossible to continue its activities in Beirut. The launch of the institution’s Turkey branch was announced at the 11th International Istanbul Arabic Book Fair, where a Jerusalem Commemoration Program was also held to mark the anniversary of the fire that broke out at Al-Aqsa Mosque on August 21, 1969.
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ağırakça, chairman of the board of the International Jerusalem Institution, said they planned to continue the institution’s activities in Istanbul’s Fatih district. Ağırakça said the hope that Jerusalem would be liberated again had been passed on to future generations in the past and that this hope had grown stronger after the Al-Aqsa Flood.
Ağırakça said the International Jerusalem Institution was established in 2006 under the leadership of Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the founding chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars. He said he had been working at the institution and serving on its board of trustees since 2007, adding that he had recently joined the board of directors.
Four threats to Al-Aqsa Mosque
Yasin Hammoud, director-general of the International Jerusalem Institution, said they publish a comprehensive analytical report every year on the situation at Al-Aqsa Mosque under occupation. Hammoud said the warning level for three threats had been raised to its highest level in this year’s report.
- The possibility of imposing a physical division by taking control of Al-Aqsa Mosque’s eastern courtyards.
- The possibility of a large-scale attack on the mosque, arson or an explosion following an increase in provocations.
- The possibility of eliminating the remaining elements of the historical status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque and ending the role of Islamic endowments.
Hammoud argued that the fourth threat to the future of Al-Aqsa Mosque was the weakness and division among Arabs and Muslims. Saying that the governments of some Arab and Muslim countries had moved away from condemning Israel’s attacks, Hammoud said joint statements were not enough.
Call for joint action on Gaza and Palestine
Prof. Dr. Ali Muhyiddin al-Qaradaghi, chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, claimed that Israelis wanted to demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque and rebuild what they call Solomon’s Temple. Qaradaghi said efforts were being made to justify this objective on religious, historical and archaeological grounds, but that these claims did not reflect reality.
Qaradaghi said every Muslim had a responsibility regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque and that the people of Gaza and Palestine were waging a major struggle. Arguing that this struggle had shaken Israel’s international standing and support network, Qaradaghi said social changes were taking place in Europe and America regarding the Palestinian issue.
Qaradaghi called on the leaders of Muslim countries to act jointly to protect Gaza and Al-Aqsa Mosque and delivered the message: “Protect Gaza, protect Palestine.” Calling on scholars to adopt a common position on Palestine, Qaradaghi also urged media professionals to explain the Palestinian issue to the world and inform the public.
Qaradaghi also called on the Muslim ummah to stand by Gaza with material and moral support, saying the eight categories eligible to receive zakat should be considered in the context of Gaza and Palestine. Qaradaghi called for the necessary support to be provided to Gaza.
The Jerusalem issue from historical and legal perspectives
Academic Prof. Dr. Yasin Aktay said he was a member of the International Jerusalem Institution, whose work he had followed since its establishment. Aktay said Jerusalem was not merely a geographic area or a historic city, but an important part of humanity’s shared religious and historical memory through memory, the qibla, the Isra and the Mi’raj.
Aktay said Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem did not merely mean taking control of a city, but constituted an attack on the city’s historical identity, civilizational mission and humanity’s shared memory. He argued that the policies of killing, forcibly displacing, starving and destroying Palestinians should be regarded as crimes against humanitarian values and the shared cultural heritage of humanity.
Aktay said the Jerusalem issue should be addressed beyond daily political developments through the lenses of history, law, urban planning, culture, humanity, memory and civilization. He added that the institution brings together scientific research, education, publishing, documentation, legal work and international cooperation.
Dr. Hisham Yacoub, head of the Research and R&D Department of the International Jerusalem Institution, and senior researcher Ali Ibrahim also spoke at the program. Participants watched a video message from Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, former Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, imam-preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque and chairman of the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem.
The institution’s establishment
The International Jerusalem Institution addresses the Jerusalem issue not only from a political perspective but also through the perspectives of history, culture, law, education, urban planning, architecture, human rights and civilization. Its areas of work include scientific research, the protection of cultural heritage, the production of accurate information, raising international awareness and developing cooperation between institutions.
The idea of establishing the institution was raised at the 3rd Arab-Islamic Congress held in Beirut on October 21, 2000. The congress decided to establish an independent civil organization to preserve Jerusalem’s historical identity, conduct scientific studies and operate internationally.
After the preparatory work was completed, the Founding Congress was held in Beirut on January 28, 2001. About 2,000 people from 46 countries and different regions attended the congress, where academics, lawyers, scholars and intellectuals, civil society representatives and public opinion leaders supported the idea of establishing the institution.
The institution was later registered by the Council of Ministers of the Lebanese Republic. During its establishment, a 282-member Board of Trustees brought together scholars, academics, lawyers, cultural figures and civil society representatives from different countries. Prof. Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi served as the first chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Research and cultural heritage activities
The institution has identified preserving Jerusalem’s historical, religious, cultural and civilizational heritage as one of its main objectives and supports academic research and scholarly publications. It produces books, journals, reports and studies, and conducts archival and documentation work on the city’s collective memory.
The institution develops joint projects with universities and research centers and organizes conferences, symposia and workshops. It aims to support young researchers, raise awareness about the protection of cultural heritage, build an information-based public sphere through media and digital communication tools, and support academic and legal studies on Jerusalem.
