RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Interior said Sunday that a new political party formed by the former PA Chief of Justice is unlicensed.

Ministry official Hassan Ilwei told Ma'an that Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi's new political party, the Freedom and Independence Party for the Defense of Holy Sites, has not been registered or legally approved.

Tamimi announced the formation of the political party on Saturday, saying that it had been licensed by the PA's interior ministry. The official launching of the party will take place on Wednesday at the Rocky hotel in Ramallah, Sheikh Tamimi said.

President Mahmoud Abbas announced the end of Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi's career as Palestinian Chief Justice and Supreme Judge in June 2010.