Churches criticise Israeli curbs on Orthodox Easter event in Jerusalem
Church leaders in Jerusalem say Israeli police are imposing "heavy-handed and unnecessary restrictions" on access to an important Orthodox Easter ritual.
They say numbers who can attend Saturday's Holy Fire ceremony at the Holy Sepulchre Church are being limited to 1,800, down from 10,000 last year.
The police, who control security in occupied East Jerusalem, say they are ensuring safety and freedom of worship.
Church officials are now urging Christians to ignore the restrictions.
"We will hold the ceremony and invite all who wish to worship with us to attend," Father Mattheos Siopsis of the Greek Orthodox Church told a news conference on Wednesday, also attended by representatives of other denominations governing the holy site.
"With that made clear, we leave the [Israeli] authorities to act as they will. The churches will freely worship and do so in peace."
The call to local Christians and foreign pilgrims could lead to chaotic scenes in the Old City, where police have set up extra security checkpoints.
Last year, videos shared on social media showed scuffles with worshippers as officers turned them away from the church.
FULL ARTICLE AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-65253216
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