Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, head of the Higher Islamic Council and preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, said his defence team had presented a “logical argument” during the latest court session examining the indictment against him, stressing that the speech cited in the case was “legitimate religious speech protected by law”.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Sabri said the defence had relied on “a successful argument from a religious perspective”, adding that the religious expressions used in his sermons and public positions were “legally permitted”.
According to the case file, the charges relate to condolences delivered by Sabri at mourning gatherings in Jerusalem and Jenin refugee camp, as well as his prayer for former Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh during a sermon at Al-Aqsa Mosque in 2024.
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Sabri said the defence team had sought to prove his innocence, arguing that the case concerned religious speech that falls within what is legally and religiously permissible.
The defence team said it completely rejected the indictment, stressing that the sheikh had committed no legal offence and that the statements cited in the case formed part of religious and legal speech that should be protected.
Lawyer Khaled Zabarqa said the session was devoted to responding to the three charges against Sabri. He added that the defence had answered all three counts, denied the accusations against the sheikh and challenged the basic principle on which the case was built.
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