British far-right figure Tommy Robinson tried to pass himself off as a Muslim to enter the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem

ByMuhammad

A video shows Tommy Robinson, a figure of the British Islamophobic far right, trying to gain access to the Al-Aqsa mosque in occupied East Jerusalem by presenting himself as Muslim. Invited to Israel by Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, Robinson was accompanied by anti-Islam activists, including Australian-Israeli Avi Yemeni. In front of the entrance to the esplanade, a Palestinian guard asks him to recite a passage from the Koran to prove his faith. Unable to respond, Robinson is refused, while the person who accompanied him, an ex-Muslim, manages to recite the Fatiha. Despite his protests, Robinson was barred from entering the place of worship, which was reserved for Muslims.

The footage, widely mocked online, shows Robinson seeking to provoke the guards. On social networks, many Internet users welcome the calm and firmness of the Palestinians in the face of this media stunt intended to maintain tension around Al-Aqsa, the third holiest site in Islam and symbol of Palestinian sovereignty.

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Muhammad

Muhammad is a visionary thinker and passionate writer who has been contributing to Understanding Islam for several years.