Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Sunday issued a ruling allowing Jewish settlers to perform prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque’s gates, claiming that the right of Jewish settlers to pray at the “Temple Mount” gates was no less than the right of the Arabs.

Judge Shmuel Herbst rejected a police request to distance three 14-year-old Jewish girls from al-Aqsa Mosque area who prayed near the holy site’s gates.

The three girls were detained after praying at the al-Aqsa’s gates and police requested they be distanced from the area, claiming their prayers and presence with a prayer book at the holy shrine gate area could spark violence.

In his decision, the judge ruled that “it is the right of every person to pray on the streets of cities in Israel, provided this does not violate the rights of others”.

Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, head of the Higher Islamic Authority in Occupied Jerusalem and Preacher of al-Aqsa Mosque, said that the Israeli ruling is null and void and totally rejected.

He told Quds Press that al-Aqsa Mosque is a holy site for Muslims only and the court’s decision is irresponsible and illegal.