Hebron seeks support for mosque on massacre anniversary
Reageer (0)14-8-2010
HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Palestinians should mark the 1994 Ramadan massacre that took place in the Ibrahimi Mosque by coming out in numbers stronger than ever this holy season, Hebron's acting governor told Ma'an.
"The massacre was a move to intimidate and terrorize worshipers; it was an act intending to drive Muslims away from the mosque and allow settler to intensify their efforts at taking over the city," Samir Abu Zneid said.
On the 15th day of Ramadan 16 years ago an Israeli settler living in Hebron entered the mosque during morning prayers and opened fire, killing 29 worshipers and injuring 129 others. Following the attack, the mosque was divided with sections walled off for a small synagogue, an area prohibited for Muslims for most of the year.
On Fridays in Ramadan, however, the entire mosque is opened up to accommodate worshipers, with estimates that between 6,000-7,000 participated in the first Friday prayers of the holy month.
Deputy governor Abu Zneid urged citizens to attend prayers at the site spend time in Hebron's Old City, largely taken over by settler families driving commerce outside of the ancient streets into the newer parts of town. Chickenwire was strung up overtop of the shopping areas in the late 1990s in an attempt to prevent stones and garbage thrown down by settlers from landing on shoppers.
"Ramadan is a time to reclaim our city and our heritage," Abu Zneid said, adding that merchants and bakers in the area had reduced prices for the month as an incentive for shoppers to visit the area.
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