Israhell to destroy gold-domed mosque

[yankeedoodle]

Israhell getting in practice for the destruction of the Dome of the Rock.


Jerusalem orders demolition of new 'illegal' gold-domed mosque
According to the municipality, the construction was done without a permit; Beit Safafa community leader says he will work hard to ensure mosque's survival
https://fr.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-ordonne-la-demolition-de-la-nouvelle-mosquee-illegale-au-dome-dor/

Under pressure from right-wing organizations, the Jerusalem municipality ordered the demolition of a compound in the Beit Safafa neighborhood housing a mosque with a new golden dome.

According to court documents filed Wednesday, the municipality wants to demolish it because of a floor of the building it says was built without a permit.

The Al-Rahman Mosque , built before the founding of Israel in 1948, is being renovated and expanded at the rate of donations sent in by locals and Arabs from northern Israel.

The building has a highly visible golden dome. But unlike the famous Dome of the Rock in the Old City, adorned with 5,000 actual gold plates funded by the late King Hussein of Jordan, this smaller version was simply painted to look like the real dome.

According to the Ynet news site, on Wednesday the Jerusalem Municipality filed a petition in court, claiming that between 2017 and 2018, "they built an additional floor without a permit with concrete walls with stone cladding and openings for windows and doors two meters high. »

The court filing also states that above the floor, "they built for another five meters and placed an iron construction [the dome] on it. »

In a statement to Ynet, the municipality said 700 square meters were built without permits or approval from municipal engineers, and therefore posed a security threat.

Palestinians in Beit Safafa and other neighborhoods in Jerusalem say they have little choice but to build illegally due to difficulties in obtaining permits.

Asked by Ynet, the leader of the community, Muhammad Alian, clarified that it was the renovation of a mosque that had been there for decades.

"It's a calm and quiet area, it's a mosque and it must be respected. This mosque was built before the establishment of the state, and is under the auspices of the ministries of religion and interior," Alian said. "It is a very old mosque which is being renovated. Each mosque has a dome and a turret".

Alian said he would oppose the demolition order.

"Mosques usually receive donations for renovations, so it took a long time to complete the renovation. Such a decision angers us as residents and is not acceptable. We will do everything and use all legal means to ensure the construction of the entire complex," he said.

In a joint statement, the right-wing groups Im Tirtzu and Lach Yerushalayim welcomed the decision to begin the demolition process and called for those responsible to be criminally prosecuted.

"We commend the Jerusalem Municipality and Mayor Moshe Lion for issuing the demolition order. The last thing Jerusalem needs is more radical art through illegal construction. The dome is destined to be another hotbed of violence and so quick municipal action is needed here. Indictments must also be filed against those responsible, whose identities we know, and we will act accordingly," the right-wing groups said.

Several far-right groups have campaigned against the mosque, and far-right media have taken particular interest in it in recent weeks.

Aviv Tatarsky, a researcher for the Ir Amim association, denounced the decision, telling Ynet that the municipality was "succumbing to extremists".

"This is a central mosque in the neighborhood that is part of the complex of public buildings where the activities of the municipality take place. The Jerusalem Municipality must act to increase trust and prevent unnecessary conflicts between it and residents," Tatarsky said.

"Instead of succumbing to extremists, the mayor must block venomous and racist messages on social media, which also come from the city council. It must act in a way that serves the residents of Beit Safafa and the whole of Jerusalem," he added.