International Quds Day to be observed today

Quds Day, officially called International Quds Day, is an annual event held on the last Friday of Ramadan that was initiated by the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and oppose Zionism and Israel

Darusshifa: Marking the last Friday of the holy month of Ramzan, as the International Quds Day (annual event during which demonstrators around the world express their solidarity with the Palestinians), the Muslims of Old City including Shias and some Sunni groups will commemorate the day by highlighting the plight of the 'oppressed Palestinians' by staging a peaceful rally from Purani Haveli to Darusshifa following Friday prayers.

A meeting was held at Nampally's Madina Education Centre, which was attended by Consul-General of Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Haghbin Ghomi, Tanzeem-e-Jafferi, President Moulana Syed Taqi Raza Abedi, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Telangana president Hamid Mohammed Khan, President Sunni Ulama -o- Sufia Board Moulana Asraar Hussain Razvi, Moulana Fasiuddin Nizami of Jamia Nizamia and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Moulana Syed Taqi Raza Abedi explained that those who were against colonialism should know that land of Palestine which belongs to the native Muslims, Christians and Jews continue to be under the occupation of 'illegitimate' State of Israel, since the year 1948. The Al-Aqsa mosque of Jerusalem, which is the first Qibla (Direction in which Muslims pray) and its vicinity is central pivot to Islam just like the Holy Ka'aba in Mecca, is also under 'Zionist' invasion.

"Our forefathers have suffered in the same manner under the occupation of the British invaders for decades, hence we, as Indians are in a better position to understand the pain of Palestinians, mass massacres, demolishing of homes, target bombings and assassinations, as well as illegal detentions and imprisonments of the natives (Muslim, Christian & Jews) Palestinians by the Zionists have become the order of the day.

The onslaught against Gaza and continued bombardment of the city and its people by the illegal state of Israel is still fresh on our minds. The world, Arab leaders and so called human rights groups have all remained silent to these brutalities committed by the Israel," he pointed out.

He noted that the Israel is the only country which has violated numerous resolutions of the United Nations, yet the UN stands ignorant of their crimes. "The current peace plan of creating a separate Palestinian State is a clear deception by the America and will never see the light of the day. Such deception and cover-up led to the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, while bombing or intimidating other countries such as Libya, Syria, Lebanon and Iran," he added.