Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor submitted on Saturday a letter to the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief calling for urgent intervention to end Israel’s closure of the Aqsa Mosque compound.

In the letter, the Geneva-based human rights group warned that such an Israeli measure was a provocative act that would exacerbate the tension further in the holy city.

The Euro-Med called for taking Israel’s violations of the right to freedom of religion and worship into consideration by the UN Human Rights Council and for taking serious steps to guarantee that the freedom of religion for Muslims in Jerusalem is protected.

It said that its letter to the special rapporteur was to urge him to assume his responsibilities regarding the holy sites in the Palestinian territories.

The Israeli authorities announced the closure of the Aqsa Mosque on Friday, July 14, until further notice. Palestinians were prevented from entering the compound on that day and the following days for prayers

The closure of the Mosque and the prohibition of Muslim worshippers from entering their holy place is a flagrant violation of the right to freedom of worship.

There was deliberate desecration of the Mosque by the Israeli police. Internal facilities were broken into and searched without the presence of Mosque officials.