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On Friday, Palestine supporters around the globe will mark “Al-Quds Day” as Israel continues its assaults on Gaza and the occupied West Financial institution.
Right here's all you should find out about this occasion, its historical past and its significance.
What’s Al-Quds Day?
Al-Quds Day (or, merely, “Quds Day”) is an annual, worldwide day to specific help for Palestine and protest Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories. Giant rallies are organised, normally beginning after communal Friday prayers.
Iran's first Supreme Chief Ruhollah Khomeini established Quds Day in 1979, shortly after the Iranian Revolution, to indicate solidarity with Palestinians and reject Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem. Since then it has change into an emblem of resistance.
Some observers have claimed that this incident was initiated by Iran to additional its political pursuits of utilizing proxies to combat towards Israel and Western powers.
In a press release on Quds Day this 12 months, Iran's Overseas Ministry mentioned the occasion “has now change into an emblem of the unity of all humanity”. It additionally condemned the USA and Western states for supporting Israel within the warfare on Gaza.
When is Quds Day?
It’s held yearly on the final Friday of Ramadan – this 12 months, on 5 April. The holy month of Ramadan, throughout which Muslims quick from daybreak to nightfall every single day of the month, happens within the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
The place does the title 'Al-Quds' come from?
“Al-Quds” or “Quds” is the Arabic title for Jerusalem. Subsequently, this occasion can be referred to as “Jerusalem Day”.
In Arabic, the phrase “al-Quds” interprets to “the holy one”.
Town of Jerusalem is holy to all three monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque can be the third holiest mosque in Islam and has been the topic of raids and entry restrictions by Israeli forces for the previous a number of years, together with throughout the month of Ramadan.
How do individuals have fun Quds Day around the globe?
Peaceable mass protests and rallies are held in lots of nations around the globe, particularly these with robust pro-Palestinian communities.
Based on Crisis24, the most important Quds Day rallies will doubtless be held in Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan and the occupied West Financial institution, whereas demonstrations might also happen in different nations corresponding to India, Bahrain, South Africa and Morocco. , a world intelligence group.
Tons of have additionally demonstrated in Western nations over time, together with the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia.
These conferences usually are not restricted to Muslims solely. Individuals of different religions together with Jews and Christians additionally take part in it. Contributors within the rallies generally additionally chanted anti-Israel and anti-United States slogans, whereas burning and trampling Israeli flags.
This 12 months, a big funeral may also be held in Tehran for Iran's Revolutionary Guard members killed in an Israeli strike in Damascus, Syria.
Iran has additionally used the rally to showcase its army energy over time. In 2022, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps demonstrated quite a lot of regionally developed missiles, together with the current Khyber Buster missile, in numerous areas of Tehran.
Is there a danger of violence or unrest throughout Quds Day protests?
In London, the place peaceable Quds Day protests have taken place for greater than 40 years, a number of pro-Palestinian organizations have written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner urging him to desert “heavy-handed ways” throughout this 12 months's march.
Because the starting of Israel's warfare on Gaza, there have been quite a few pro-Palestinian marches and protests. Nevertheless, a press release from the Islamic Human Rights Fee (IHRC) in the UK mentioned, “The Metropolitan Police abused their authorized powers to harass pro-Palestine protesters.”
In 2017, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan requested Dwelling Secretary Amber Rudd to ban Quds Day marches. Nevertheless, he rejected the request, saying that folks needs to be allowed to protest peacefully and categorical their views “even when these are inconvenient for many of us”.
Quds Day protesters usually face the specter of police and army brutality. Based on the IHRC (PDF), in 2009 and 2014, Nigerian armed forces carried out lethal assaults on Quds Day rallies held within the northern metropolis of Zaria.
In 2009, 1000’s of protesters in Iran marched on Quds Day to protest the disputed election victory of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In some cities, the police stood except for these actions. There have been reviews of arrests and tear fuel fired into crowds in different places corresponding to Shiraz and Tehran.
In 2010, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed duty for a suicide bombing throughout a Quds Day procession of Shia Muslims. At the least 65 individuals have been killed and greater than 100 injured within the assault within the Pakistani metropolis of Quetta. Shia Muslims are sometimes the goal of sectarian battle in Pakistan, the place Sunni Muslims kind an awesome majority.
