Tens of thousands marched in Tehran Friday in annual Quds (Jerusalem) Day demonstrations in support of Palestinians, but Saudi Arabia this year joined arch-foe Israel as the target of protesters.
President Hassan Rouhani attended but did not speak at the main rally in Tehran, which coincided with seemingly deadlocked nuclear talks between Iran and world powers led by the United States.
Large demonstrations were also expected in Iraq and Lebanon to mark the annual solidarity day inaugurated by Iran’s revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
While Iran does not recognise Israel’s existence, and supports Palestinian militant groups that fight it, Saudi Arabia’s bombing campaign in Yemen drew anger.
The crowd in Tehran chanted "Down with US, Israel and the House of Saud," and carried placards that declared "Zionist soldiers kill Muslims" and "the Saudi family will fall".
Here are some photos of the festivities, including this nice antisemitic one:
There are also rallies in Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and elsewhere. There's usually a large anti-Israel rally in Toronto.
And one is planned for Times Square:
We invite all peace loving people to voice their opposition to the unjust and illegal occupation of the great Al-Aqsa Mosque and the usurpation of the Holy Land by the Zionist regime. In addition, we will also protest about the Police Brutality which have been witnessed all across the nation recently as well as the current Saudi aggression in Yemen.The agenda is clearly Iranian, so the disclaimer is very interesting. But they might not be too big on burning American flags in Times Square.
The rally & march for International Day of Al-Quds in New York has been endorsed by -
BDSApp.org
Al-Awda NY, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition
Jafria Association of North America
Neturei Karta
International Action Center.
Workers World Party
United National Antiwar Coalition
International League of People's Struggles and Fight Imperialism Stand Together
Colectivo Honduras USA Resistencia
Muslimgirl.net
Students for Justice in Palestine - John Jay
Students for Justice in Palestine - Brooklyn College
Universal Muslim Association of America (UMAA)
Speakers confirmed -
Chris Hedges
Cyrus McGoldrick
Istafa Naqvi (JANA)
Rabbi Yoel Glauber (Neturei Karta)
Jasiri X
Lamis Deek
Deray Mckesson
Sara Flounders (Co-Director of International Action Center)
Bill Dores
Mazzi
Amani Al-Khatahtbeh
S.O.U.L. Purpose
Caleb Maupin
Raja Abdulhaq
------------------------------------------
NOTE: "Muslim Congress and its AlQuds subcommittees in respective cities have no affiliation with any foreign entity.
Funds for Al-Quds events are generated by local community organisers who strongly believe in exercising their legal right to protest against oppression."
The Boston and Chicago rallies include this description:
Let's stand united with all the humans of conscience including the Jews, the Christians and all the Muslims to show support for the innocent civilian victims of global Zionism, imperialism, occupation, neocolonialism, racism, Islamophobia, takfirism and oppression, for the sake of Haqq(truth).Hmmm...what do they mean by "global Zionism"?
And how are they going to find enough Neturei Karta guys for 19 rallies?
(h/t Elihu)