Pro-Palestine activists in Iran and elsewhere are to replace street rallies with online events to commemorate this year’s International Quds Day, in the time of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In 1979, shortly after leading the Islamic Revolution, which toppled the US-backed Shah of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini named the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan as the Quds Day.
Every year on this day, worldwide rallies are held to commemorate the Palestinian people’s resistance against Israel and their struggle to liberate their homeland.
The annual event is seen as an opportunity for freedom-seeking people across the world, regardless of faith, to voice their support for the cause of Palestine and vent their anger against the apartheid regime of Israel.
Some of Imam Khomeini's famous quotes on Quds Day come as following:
Every one should realize that the world superpowers' aim to create Israel does not end in the occupation of Palestine. They plan, Heaven forbid, extending the fate of Palestine to all Arab countries.
• If every Muslim throws a bucket of water on Israel, Israel will be washed away.
• It is the intonation of Allah-o-Akbar, the cry of our nation that disappointed the Shah in Iran and would dissapoint the usurpers in Palestine.
• Essentially, it is the duty of all Muslims to liberate the Quds and remove this nucleus of evil from Islamic lands.
• Quds ('Jerusalem') is the first Kiblah of Muslims and it belongs to them.
• Muslims across the world should regard the Quds Day as a day when every Muslim is required to join. It is the oppressed people's day.
• Neither the Iranian Muslim nation, nor any other Muslims and, as a matter of fact, no open-minded individual will recognize Israel. We shall always support our Arab and Palestinian brothers.
• Quds belongs to the Muslims and must return to them.
• The issue of Quds is not a private or personal issue. It is neither the exclusive problem of one country. It is a phenomenon concerning the monotheists and faithful people of all ages - past, present and future.
• The International Quds Day is a day in which Islam is to be revived.
• The International Quds Day is a day in which the destinies of the oppressed nations must be determined.
• The International Quds Day is a universal day. It is a day for the oppressed to rise and stand up against the arrogant.
• The International Quds Day is the day of Islam's survival.
• The Quds Day which fall on the last days of the Great Month (of Ramadhan) is a proper day on which all Muslims should be freed from the bondage of the Big Satan (USA establishment) and other superpowers and join the Infinite Might of God.
• The Quds Day must be revived among the Muslims and be the departure point for their awakening and awareness.
• We are on the side of the oppressed whichever pole they may be in. Palestinians are oppressed by the Israelis, therefore we side with them.
• We fully support our Palestinian brothers and those of southern Lebanon in their fights against the usurper Israel.
• We must all rise, destroy Israel and replace it with the heroic Palestinian nation.
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