By Majid Kamrani
Quds Day, observed every year on the last Friday of Ramadan, was established by Imam Khomeini (RA) in 1979. This day has evolved into a significant international event symbolizing the unity of Muslims against oppression and occupation, particularly in support of the Palestinian people and the liberation of Jerusalem. Imam Khomeini’s call for Muslims worldwide to rise against the Zionist occupation was not only a plea for solidarity with Palestinians but also a call for global awareness and resistance to injustice. This article explores Quds Day and its international implications.
Imam Khomeini’s Vision and the Importance of Quds Day.
Imam Khomeini (RA), with a deep understanding of the political and social climate of the time, designated Quds Day as a symbolic day for uniting Muslims and supporting Palestine against the Zionist regime. By selecting the last Friday of Ramadan as Quds Day, Imam Khomeini added a religious and spiritual significance to the event, turning it into a symbol of resistance and standing against oppression.
Imam Khomeini emphasized that the issue of Palestine is not a regional problem but a global one, which should concern all Muslims and free people of the world. In other words, by declaring Quds Day, Imam Khomeini made it a Global Day of Resistance against the Israeli occupation, a day when people worldwide could unite to oppose oppression and injustice.
Quds Day and Its Global Impact
Quds Day is recognized as a significant event not only in Iran but also across the Muslim world. It has become an International Day of Protest against occupation, especially the Israeli regime, and a symbol of resistance and unity against oppression.
Muslim Unity.
Quds Day serves as an opportunity to strengthen unity among Muslims worldwide. Every year, Muslims take to the streets, raising slogans such as “Death to Israel” and “Jerusalem is for Muslims,” in solidarity with Palestine. These rallies not only demonstrate the solidarity of Muslims in support of Palestine but also send a global message to all oppressed peoples that they must stand against oppression and occupation.
Global Awareness
One of Imam Khomeini’s main goals for establishing Quds Day was to draw the world’s attention to the Palestinian issue and the atrocities committed by the Israeli regime. This day acts as a platform for the media, international organizations, and human rights activists to shed light on Israel’s crimes in Palestine, especially in Gaza. In this way, Quds Day becomes an influential global movement for raising awareness and shifting perspectives on the Palestinian cause.
Support for Anti-colonial and Anti-occupation Struggles
Globally, Quds Day represents an anti-colonial and anti-occupation movement. It is particularly significant in African and Asian countries that have their own histories of anti-colonial struggles. Nations that have long been under the control of colonial powers or occupiers express their solidarity with Palestine, emphasizing the right to freedom, independence, and territorial integrity for the Palestinian people.
Diplomatic and Political Impacts
Quds Day not only enhances unity among Muslim countries but also holds significant diplomatic weight on the global stage. Many Arab and Muslim countries issue statements on this day, condemning Israel’s actions and reaffirming their support for Palestinian rights. The day provides an opportunity for countries to emphasize Palestinian rights and criticize Israeli occupation within international organizations like the United Nations.
Israeli Atrocities and Their Connection to Quds Day
In recent years, the Israeli regime has escalated its atrocities against the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank. Airstrikes, bombings, killings of civilians, and the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure are just some of Israel’s crimes. These actions, carried out under the guise of military operations, are blatant violations of international law and are seen by many as acts of genocide and terror.
Quds Day, especially in such times, takes on even greater significance, as it provides a platform for nations and people worldwide to protest these crimes and reaffirm the need for the liberation of Jerusalem and an end to the occupation.
Quds Day, initiated by Imam Khomeini (RA), has become a symbolic and global day for supporting Palestine and opposing oppression and occupation. This day serves not only to strengthen unity among the Muslim world and raise global awareness of the Palestinian situation but also as a diplomatic and political opportunity for condemning Israeli crimes and supporting Palestinian resistance. Ultimately, Quds Day is a continuous global movement that emphasizes the importance of freedom, justice, and resistance to oppression on the international stage
Majid Kamrani is the Cultural consular of the Embassy Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria.
