Qods Day an inspiration for Muslims
London, 2008 Sep 24, IRNA
Qods Day is an inspiration for Muslims everywhere to gain their freedom and show solidarity to the plight of the Palestinians, according to a Bahraini academic and journalist.
Saeed Shehabi, editor of Abrar newsletter, said that the decision by the fate founder of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini to designate the last Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan as Qods Day was one of his greatest perceptions.
Imam understood the importance of Palestine and encouraged Muslims to stand up for their rights, Shehabi said in an interview with IRNA.
The march, to express solidarity with the dispossessed Palestinians, has been held annually around the world since 1981.
"The Muslims of the world should view Qods Day not only as a day for all the Muslims of the world, but one for all the deprived, and from that sensitive point, they should stand against the oppressors and the world-plunderers," Imam Khomeini said.
People, he said at the time, should "not rest until the oppressed have been set free from the oppression of the power-wielders".
All freedom-lovers as well as Muslims should participate in the annual Qods Day march, which is being held in London this Sunday, September 28, and protest Israel's continuing occupation of Muslim lands, he said.
This year's march in the UK is expected to be one of the biggest yet after gaining wider recognition from both Muslims and non-Muslims, according to the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which is helping to organize the event.
The march on Sunday is again being supported by such orthodox Jewish groups as Neturei Karta as well as uniting more Muslim organizations. Others adding their name include Stop the War Coalition and anti-war Respect Party.
IHRC chair Massoud Shadjareh said the rally was a time to reflect on the oppression of millions world-wide through the symbolism of Palestine and the Palestinian struggle for justice.
Shehabi, who is also director of the Persian Gulf Cultural Club in London, criticized the 'hypocritical' stance taken by most western countries about the plight of the Palestinians.
He accused Israel of trying to destroy the Palestinians' heritage and described all Palestinians living in the occupied territories of 'prisoners' not just the 10,000 incarcerated and tortured in Israeli jails.
The Palestinians were also 'refugees in their own lands', the editor said. 'It was a shame of humanity' that they were being denied access to food and medicines," he said.
The march is starting at Marble Arch before moving on to Trafalgar Square for a rally, where for the first time huge screens are being erected to show example footage of Israeli atrocities.
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