Dr. Osama Yassin, Assistant Secretary-General of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), said that the FJP categorically denounced Egyptian Grand Mufti Dr. Ali Gomaa’s visit to the Holy city of Jerusalem, whatever the reasons and justifications, confirming that it is a gross mistake and a blow to the national fight which managed to thwart all attempts of normalization over the years.

Dr. Yassin, who is also Chairman of Egyptian parliament’s Youth Committee, pointed out that even the former regime with its intimately close ties with the leaders of Israel had failed to impose normalization on the Egyptian people.

“Therefore, it certainly is not acceptable that such a visit takes place after the revolution, which saw a consensus between popular and official stances on the issue, rejecting the existence of any relations with Israel so long as the occupation continues and the settlements increase and the siege of Gaza remains.”

The MP explained that the Mufti’s visit to Al-Aqsa mosque was strictly against many relevant fatwas (legal decisions or rulings) issued by prominent Muslim scholars, including Al-Azhar and the Islamic Research Academy.

Further, Dr. Yassin said that, “The Mufti did not simply represent himself, since he is seen as the representative of the official religious establishment.

“Therefore, what he did cannot be accepted, justified or ignored.  The Mufti must be held accountable in a manner that should deter any official or public figure from making the same mistake, and thus harming the Palestinian cause.”