Muslim clerics launch petition to UN chief on Jerusalem mosque

DOHA: Muslim clerics launched a campaign Tuesday to stop controversial Israeli excavation work near Jerusalem s Al-Aqsa Mosque, vowing to collect one million signatures on a petition to the UN chief. The clerics, including Egyptian-born Yussef Al-Qaradawi, rallied in the Qatari capital Doha to launch the drive, which includes plans to sign up one million people across the Arab and Islamic worlds to the petition that will be presented to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. One million signatures will be collected in defense of Al-Aqsa on the longest letter of its kind, which will be sent to the UN secretary general in order to underscore the sacred status of Al-Aqsa for all Muslims, said Ayedh Al-Qahtani, an official of a Qatari Islamic charity which initiated the campaign. Israel s construction work near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam s third holiest site, has sparked violent Palestinian protests and angered Muslims across the world.