Al Quds Day - Is it for you?
inminds | 27.08.2010 00:19 | Anti-racism | Palestine | Social Struggles
There has been a lot of disinformation about Al-Quds Day in recent years with Zionists trying their best to discourage people from attending. Here we try and cut through the hasbra so that you can be better informed in deciding if its an event you wish to support.
FIGURE 1: Placards from 2009 Al-Quds Day
FIGURE 2: Al-Quds Day rally in Gaza October 20, 2006
FIGURE 3: Speakers from previous Quds Day rallies
FIGURE 4: The opposition: racists & zionists(top), Iranian royalist (bottom)
There has been a lot of disinformation about Al-Quds Day in recent years with Zionists trying their best to discourage people from attending. Here we try and cut through the hasbra so that you can be better informed in deciding if its an event you wish to support.
1. What is Al Quds Day?
It’s a day when people around the world, Muslims and non-Muslims come together to demonstrate their support for the oppressed in the world, in particular the oppressed Palestinians who have been living under zionist occupation for over 60 years.
It was 31 years ago on 16th August 1979, on the first Ramadan after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, that Imam Khomeini inaugurated Al-Quds Day, the last friday of Ramadan, as a day for solidarity with the oppressed in the world, in particular the oppressed of Palestine. He said: "Al Quds Day is the day for the weak and oppressed to confront the arrogant powers". Every year since that day, without exception, we have seen Al Quds Day demonstrations all around the world.
Al Quds Day is the oldest annual international protest in support of Palestine[1]. And these aren't just hollow words, what other event in the calendar brings people in Cuba, Nigeria, Britain, South Africa, China and Indonesia together in solidarity with the Palestinians? There is none, other than Al-Quds Day. It uniquely bridges the North-South, East-West divide for the Palestinian cause.
[1]Other important days of solidarity with Palestine include Land Day (inaugurated in 1988) and Nakba Day (inaugurated in 1998)
2. Isn't it about Iran?
Al-Quds day is not a rally to show support for Iran. Imam Khomeini was opposed to nationalism, and made it emphatically clear that Al-Quds day is to show solidarity and support for the oppressed in the world, in particular the Palestinians. Its not an Iranian event, on many occasions the rallies held outside of Iran - like in Nigeria where over a million people attended the rally in Kaduna - have been much larger than those held in Iran. The placards used in last years London rally also reflect this, focusing solely on Palestine.
3. Isn't it a Shia event?
Al-Quds day is not a Shia gathering, its strictly non-sectarian. Whist no studies have been carried out, as it would run counter to the spirit of unity that embodies Al-Quds Day, when we look at the rallies held around the world on Al-Quds day from South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Palestine to Indonesia, then consider the demographic breakdown of schools of thought in Islam its probably true that more Sunnis than Shias participate in Al Quds Day. This is also reflected in the list of speakers addressing this years London rally and the organisations giving their support to it.
4. Surely its just for Muslims?
Whilst it is true that Al-Quds day is largely organised by Muslims, hence its specific targeting by islamophobic and racist groups like the SIOE, EDL, and BNP, but the reality is that Al-Quds day is for everyone who oppose oppression. It would have been very easy for the leader of the first Islamic Revolution to have announced Al-Quds day as a day of solidarity with the oppressed Muslims of the world, but Imam Khomeini didn't say that, his vision was always Islamic and hence global, inclusive of all mankind, that's why he said 'all oppressed people in the world'. This inclusive character of Al-Quds Day has always been reflected in the London event both amongst the supporting organisations (Stop the War, 1990 Trust, etc.), and the speakers addressing the rally as well as those attending it. Al-Quds Day belongs to everyone who cares to stand for the oppressed. In recent years progressive countries like Cuba and Venezuela, with no real Muslim populations, have also joined in Al Quds day with academics and government ministers in Cuba taking the lead.
5. So who opposes Al Quds Day?
Al Quds Day, being the oldest annual international protest in support of Palestine, has been a key vehicle for people around the world from countries in Europe to those in Africa to show their support for the Palestinians in a united global event. This has hurt the Zionist regime, and it is actively working to stop the practice of observing Al-Quds Day worldwide.
Students identified as key supporters of Palestine have seen their student unions pressured in to remove Al-Quds Day from their calendars, and there have been calls in several European countries to ban Al-Quds Day. The Zionists have tried to portray Al-Quds Day as an anti-Semitic "kill the Jews" hate fest, but with the abundance of Jews amongst the demonstrators and speakers at the Quds Day rally these lies have failed miserably. They have launched vociferous campaigns of intimidation against those brave Jews to terrorize them in to not supporting Al-Quds Day, this has also failed with wider segments of the anti-Zionist Jewish community every year standing together with Muslims for justice in Palestine.
Many reactionary regimes around the world, especially in Muslim countries, also fear Al-Quds Day because they understand its call for justice goes far beyond Palestine. In the past Al-Quds Day rallies have been attacked by security forces, demonstrators including children have been shot dead (in Nigeria for example).
In recent years in the UK we have seen small counter-demonstrations made up of Zionists and far-right racist islamophobes like the British National Party (BNP), English Defence League (EDL), Stop Islamisation Of Europe (SOIE), March for England (MfE) and United British Alliance (UBA). Small naive elements on the left, who have fallen for the Zionist portrayal of Al Quds Day as a demonstration in support of Iran rather than Palestine or an anti-Semitic event, have also in the past stood with the racists against Al Quds Day. We have also seen the presence of disgruntled Iranian royalists, waving Pahlavi flags, who oppose the Islamic Revolution and see its support of Palestine as a betrayal of Persia, as a sell-out to Arabs.
Question for you
This year, Al Quds Day in London will be held on Saturday 4th September 2010. Assembling at 2pm in Marble Arch, we will marching at 3pm to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square for a rally. So will you stand with us in support of Palestine, or will you by your absence give your support to the Zionists?
1. What is Al Quds Day?
It’s a day when people around the world, Muslims and non-Muslims come together to demonstrate their support for the oppressed in the world, in particular the oppressed Palestinians who have been living under zionist occupation for over 60 years.
It was 31 years ago on 16th August 1979, on the first Ramadan after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, that Imam Khomeini inaugurated Al-Quds Day, the last friday of Ramadan, as a day for solidarity with the oppressed in the world, in particular the oppressed of Palestine. He said: "Al Quds Day is the day for the weak and oppressed to confront the arrogant powers". Every year since that day, without exception, we have seen Al Quds Day demonstrations all around the world.
Al Quds Day is the oldest annual international protest in support of Palestine[1]. And these aren't just hollow words, what other event in the calendar brings people in Cuba, Nigeria, Britain, South Africa, China and Indonesia together in solidarity with the Palestinians? There is none, other than Al-Quds Day. It uniquely bridges the North-South, East-West divide for the Palestinian cause.
[1]Other important days of solidarity with Palestine include Land Day (inaugurated in 1988) and Nakba Day (inaugurated in 1998)
2. Isn't it about Iran?
Al-Quds day is not a rally to show support for Iran. Imam Khomeini was opposed to nationalism, and made it emphatically clear that Al-Quds day is to show solidarity and support for the oppressed in the world, in particular the Palestinians. Its not an Iranian event, on many occasions the rallies held outside of Iran - like in Nigeria where over a million people attended the rally in Kaduna - have been much larger than those held in Iran. The placards used in last years London rally also reflect this, focusing solely on Palestine.
3. Isn't it a Shia event?
Al-Quds day is not a Shia gathering, its strictly non-sectarian. Whist no studies have been carried out, as it would run counter to the spirit of unity that embodies Al-Quds Day, when we look at the rallies held around the world on Al-Quds day from South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Palestine to Indonesia, then consider the demographic breakdown of schools of thought in Islam its probably true that more Sunnis than Shias participate in Al Quds Day. This is also reflected in the list of speakers addressing this years London rally and the organisations giving their support to it.
4. Surely its just for Muslims?
Whilst it is true that Al-Quds day is largely organised by Muslims, hence its specific targeting by islamophobic and racist groups like the SIOE, EDL, and BNP, but the reality is that Al-Quds day is for everyone who oppose oppression. It would have been very easy for the leader of the first Islamic Revolution to have announced Al-Quds day as a day of solidarity with the oppressed Muslims of the world, but Imam Khomeini didn't say that, his vision was always Islamic and hence global, inclusive of all mankind, that's why he said 'all oppressed people in the world'. This inclusive character of Al-Quds Day has always been reflected in the London event both amongst the supporting organisations (Stop the War, 1990 Trust, etc.), and the speakers addressing the rally as well as those attending it. Al-Quds Day belongs to everyone who cares to stand for the oppressed. In recent years progressive countries like Cuba and Venezuela, with no real Muslim populations, have also joined in Al Quds day with academics and government ministers in Cuba taking the lead.
5. So who opposes Al Quds Day?
Al Quds Day, being the oldest annual international protest in support of Palestine, has been a key vehicle for people around the world from countries in Europe to those in Africa to show their support for the Palestinians in a united global event. This has hurt the Zionist regime, and it is actively working to stop the practice of observing Al-Quds Day worldwide.
Students identified as key supporters of Palestine have seen their student unions pressured in to remove Al-Quds Day from their calendars, and there have been calls in several European countries to ban Al-Quds Day. The Zionists have tried to portray Al-Quds Day as an anti-Semitic "kill the Jews" hate fest, but with the abundance of Jews amongst the demonstrators and speakers at the Quds Day rally these lies have failed miserably. They have launched vociferous campaigns of intimidation against those brave Jews to terrorize them in to not supporting Al-Quds Day, this has also failed with wider segments of the anti-Zionist Jewish community every year standing together with Muslims for justice in Palestine.
Many reactionary regimes around the world, especially in Muslim countries, also fear Al-Quds Day because they understand its call for justice goes far beyond Palestine. In the past Al-Quds Day rallies have been attacked by security forces, demonstrators including children have been shot dead (in Nigeria for example).
In recent years in the UK we have seen small counter-demonstrations made up of Zionists and far-right racist islamophobes like the British National Party (BNP), English Defence League (EDL), Stop Islamisation Of Europe (SOIE), March for England (MfE) and United British Alliance (UBA). Small naive elements on the left, who have fallen for the Zionist portrayal of Al Quds Day as a demonstration in support of Iran rather than Palestine or an anti-Semitic event, have also in the past stood with the racists against Al Quds Day. We have also seen the presence of disgruntled Iranian royalists, waving Pahlavi flags, who oppose the Islamic Revolution and see its support of Palestine as a betrayal of Persia, as a sell-out to Arabs.
Question for you
This year, Al Quds Day in London will be held on Saturday 4th September 2010. Assembling at 2pm in Marble Arch, we will marching at 3pm to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square for a rally. So will you stand with us in support of Palestine, or will you by your absence give your support to the Zionists?
inminds
Homepage:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/article.php?id=10477
Comments
Hide the following 8 comments
Neo-Nazi Troll Alert!
27.08.2010 08:23
Sadly, extreme american rightwing blogs like Atlas Shrugs are to blame, as they appease fascists and link neo-nazis with hardline neocon extremists.
Indymedia Trolls Jeff Marsh (sheffield police grass) and Trevor KKKelway will no-doubt come on here, posting complete and absolute bullshit following this article, so please be on your mettle and delete the EDL trolls.
Troll Hayta!
Behind
27.08.2010 19:46
TG
Jeff Marsh Is A Changed Man
28.08.2010 04:50
Anti racists should please take note, Poor Jeffrey is a changed man, and would no longer like to be thought of as the social pariah who has rallied football hooligans to violently assault people with darker skins for kicks. Neither does he want to murder socialists or anarchists, or people who don't like racialists. In-fact, he now claims to be a champion of the working classes, despite raking lots of money in from EDL merchandising and the sale of his Cardiff Soul Crew memoirs (Cardiff Soul Crew - think soul music made by coloured people - if this isn't proof that Jeffrey is no-longer racist, you anti-fascists are heartless monsters).
In-fact, after visiting prison, Jeffrey has also gone easy on his rampant homophobia. Since being banged up with twenty-stone, well-oiled fellow prisoners, with a penchant for baby oil massages, he tries to not label gay people as being "poofs" and "lessies". He actively supports Trevor Kelway's EDL Gay And Lesbo Division, as they operate safely out of sight behind closed doors, and never dare walk through Wetherspoons.
Life was hard in prison for Poor Jeffrey, and he grew up fast when he was repeatedly jailed for mutilating rival football fans with sharp knives for fun. His mind was sick, like all mental sufferers, and due to Jeffrey being male (gender-wise), he has had a phobia of doctors which has stopped him from being sectioned by trick cyclists, and he was repeatedly spanked by his father for telling too many lies, and multiple-personality disorder, which is why the poor lad has been trolling on Indymedia under the names of "Gerry Gable", "Martin Smith", "Whitechapel Anarchists" and "Anarchist Antifa".
Jeffrey Marsh wasn't just doing this to divide and conquer the anti-fascist opposition. He does honestly think he is more than one person, and libellously adopting fake personalities, Martin Smith for instance (posting pro-violence comments so he gets arrested), is his active therapy, now that the quacks no-longer carry out the full-frontal lobotomy that the sick lad needs.
Ritalin hadn't been invented when sad, attention-seeking Jeffrey hung out with the wrong sort of boys. He only got involved in the serious football hooligan scene because he wasn't able to get a girlfriend, thus, like any lonely boy, he needed to earn friends, which he did by beating up strangers senselessly for wearing the wrong football coulours, inflicting fear in the hearts of innocent families hoping to watch a safe and friendly game of footie.
Jeffrey only famously viciously stabbed the Manchester United fan like a raving madman, not for fun (apart from harmless kicks), because voices in his head told him to "fight the devil" to make peace with God. So, being the changed man he is, he slashed a "Red Devil" like a beetroot, hoping he would breathe his last, and his reward for "fighting the good fight" would be a free season ticket to heaven, as well as increased book, video and download sales.
Jeffrey Marsh doesn't hate all Muslims. Well, maybe he loathes the ordinary ones who just try to go about their ordinary everyday lives and are clobbered by drunken gangs of EDL racists, but actually, in a perverse way, he admires the spunk of Islamic Religious Extremist minority, such as suicide bombers in War-Torn Afganistan, who talk about being rewarded by marrying virgins in the next life. Don't let him know I said this, but my dear little Jeffrey...., well how do I say this without making him feel like "one of those", isn't entirely comfortable at the thought of finally losing his virginity.
The EDL do now have a Ladies Division, he tells me, but they are not ladies, and neither are they liberated or non of that nonsense. Like their idol the Charley's Angels, like proper little housewives, they are ordered what to do by men, and know their station. The lads of the EDL told them not to travel to Bradford's railway stations, and like good girls not the Carling-infused "cheap slags" the communists like to view them as, they do what they are told. Women, coloured people, self-loathing Sikh Poster Boys, they are all salad dressing for the "meat and two veg" of the ordinary white working class male that Jeffrey now swears to give a shit about.
Violent brutal football casualism is his only religion, but Jeffrey isn't as thick as he often appears. He tells me he has heard of Buddhism and Ying & Yang (sounds foreign, Asian-even, so much for being a racialist). Since going berserk with the knife on that Man United fan, Poor Jeffrey Marsh has had daily nightmares since commiting his senseless crime that God will allow rival football thugs to get even with him, in a fatal way, waking up in a deep sweat about being chased down the street by cannabalistic Combat18-loving Chelsea Headhunters.
He decided not to travel to Bradford, not so his comrades would walk into the dangerous scenarios he himself has brewed-up via his peacemaking, unifying Casuals United website, as Poor Jeffrey isn't a gay coward. Jeffrey took the very difficult decision to lead the casuals from behind the safety of his keyboard, to show his patriotic support for the British Institutions of Law And Order (as he did, grassing-up casuals with bosum-buddy Tommy in Sheffield).
Poor Jeffrey does not wish to give more pleasure to Her Majesty, (figuratively speaking), so he is going to be a good boy from now on.
Jeff Marsh indeed is a changed man!
Jeffrey's Long Suffering Mum
Good article, loonies do one!
28.08.2010 08:40
As usual it gets hijacked by the loonies of the left and right.
I will be going to the Al Quds day and this will be my third year of attending. It is an important event to show solidarity with the oppressed of the world and, we must accept, is going to be disrupted by those with hidden political agenda's. Nothing we can do about that, its not our fault they are misguided.
See you there.
T
EDL
28.08.2010 12:02
Tren
Al Quds day not for extremists.
28.08.2010 16:00
Its to show solidarity with the victims of extremism and to support the victims of extremists.
No platform.
Charles
ahem - aandag asseblief!
28.08.2010 19:49
Do we support the rights and the freedoms of those who deny the rights and freedoms of others, even to the point of stoning "adultreresses" and hanging gays and if not, then why not? How do we define the moral ... the ethical compass? Do we wholeheartedly endorse the freedoms of those who are subjugated and subjected to western aggression and violence even when those whose freedoms we defend deny the freedoms of others?
These are tough questions - are we in the vertiginous region of whose greater good trumps that of others?
I have no answer to this problematic ... simply that we have to acknowledge it, and begin to work it through. This is the only way we will defend against the trolls and the agent provocateurs that have colonised the Indymedia networks. We need to have these discussions across these forums so that they can include as many view points as necessary to resolve such difficult issues of ethical strategising.
Fly in the Ointment
@Fly in the Ointment
28.08.2010 21:57
But in this case you are missing the point, this is a demonstration for Palestine so why would you not join it? Where is the dilemma? Iran is just a red herring the zionists have pulled. This issue is Palestine. Its really very simple, if you support Palestine you should attend.
obsy