Lisbon mosque calls for peace in the Middle East at Friday prayers

(13 Oct 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lisbon - 13 October 2023
1. Various of beginning of prayer inside mosque
2. Various of people praying
3. Imam Sheikh David Munir during moment of prayer for peace (in Arabic)
4. Wide of prayer with Imam Sheikh David Munir (not in the picture) UPSOUND (in Portuguese): "For our brothers in Palestine, for that the conflict in the Middle East can end as soon as possible, for mercy, for the conflict between two people can end as soon as possible."
5. Close of Imam (back) during prayer in Portuguese
6. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Sheik David Munir, Imam of Lisbon Mosque:
"The pain is how is it possible for human beings to reach this point, as humans. Let's forget the religions, let's forget the beliefs, as humans it's impossible to reach this point. On the other hand, the Middle East is a sacred place for the three monotheistic religions, we need to respect each other even more and leave our ego behind."
7. Mid of people during prayer
8.SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Sheik David Munir, Iman of Lisbon Mosque:
"What has worried me, what worries me is the people, all those innocent people, on both sides, on both sides, children, young, men, women. I wouldn't want to quantify but those are the people that suffer."
9. Close of minaret
10. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Sheik David Munir, Iman of Lisbon Mosque:
"This pain, when one prays with such pain it is different. We felt it here today, we always feel it when we pray amidst a moment of conflict."
11. Various exteriors of mosque


STORYLINE:
In Muslim communities across the world, worshippers gathered at mosques for their first Friday prayers since Hamas militants attacked Israel, igniting the latest Israel-Hamas war.

At the main mosque of Lisbon, Portugal, worshippers prayed for peace.

The mosque's Imam Sheik David Munir addressed the Muslims who filled the room in both Arabic and Portuguese, calling on them to pray for their "Palestinian brothers," for Gaza and for the end of the conflict in the Middle East.

"Let's forget religion" Sheik Munir said. "It's sad that us as humans have reached this point."

Earlier on Friday Palestinians began a mass exodus from northern Gaza after Israel’s military told some 1 million people to evacuate toward the southern part of the besieged territory.

That's an unprecedented order applying to almost half the population ahead of an expected ground invasion against the ruling Hamas militant group.

The U.N. warned that so many people fleeing en masse would be calamitous.

Hamas dismissed the evacuation order as a ploy and called on people to stay in their homes.

The militant group staged a shocking and brutal attack on Israel nearly a week ago and has fired thousands of rockets since.

For Sheik Munir, prayer is only comfort in such troubling times.

"This pain, when one prays with this pain it's different. We have felt it here today."

AP video by Helena Alves

===========================================================

Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected].

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...