JERUSALEM: Muhammad Hussein, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, has quit the UAE-based Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies (FPPMS). He resigned following FPPMS’ public endorsement of normalisation of ties between the UAE and Israel.
Wafa news agency reported he made the announcement in a public news conference. In his statement, Hussein said: “Normalisation is a stab in the back of Palestinians and Muslims, and a betrayal for Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.”
Last week, FPPMS issued a statement – since deleted – claiming normalisation “stopped Israel from extending its sovereignty over Palestinian lands” and was a means to “promote peace and stability across the world”.
Hussein had previously issued statements condemning the deal, Last week, he issued a statement prohibiting Muslims from the UAE from visiting and praying at Al Aqsa Mosque.
On Sunday, Muslim-American activist Aisha Al Adawiya also resigned from the FPPMS as a result of the statement supporting normalisation of ties with Israel. She said the topic of normalisation was never brought up in a recent board meeting and that “there was no agreement on any kind of support for the UAE’s deal with Israel”.