International Day of Quds

International Day of Al-Quds ("Rooz-e jahaany-e Qods" in Persian: روز جهانی قدس), is an annual event opposing Israel's control of Jerusalem, ("Al-Quds" in Arabic: القـُدْس). Anti-Zionist demonstrations are held on this day in some Muslim and Arab countries and by Muslim and Arab communities around the world, but especially in Iran where the occasion was first suggested. It is held each year on the last Friday of Ramadan. Jerusalem Day is not an Islamic religious holiday but a political event open to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and thus observance is not obligatory in Islam.

The parade originated in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The observance was suggested by Ayatollah Khomeini, then Supreme Leader of Iran, in August of that year, saying

During recent years it has spread among Muslim and non-Muslim countries [ [http://al-imam.net/media/1425/quds.htm Quds day in Bahrein] ] [ [http://www.muslimedia.com/ARCHIVES/world99/tur-quds.htm Quds day in Turkey] ] [ [http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=103841 Quds day in Pakistan] ] [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C8D3197A-D3D6-44A1-9249-4F83E68E8934.htm Quds day in Lebanon] ] even the U.S. [ [http://www.arabvoices.net/QudsFlyer2005.pdf Quds day in U.S.] ] Nowadays participation is not limited to Arabs or Muslims but some non-Muslims also participate in it including Anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews. [ [http://www.nkusa.org/activities/Demonstrations/2005Oct30London.cfm Annual Al-Quds Day 30 October 2005 London, UK ] ]

ee also

*Iran-Israel relations
*Jumu'ah-tul-Wida, also on the last Friday in the month of Ramadan
*Jerusalem Day in Israel (different holiday, celebrating the Israeli capture of East Jerusalem in 1967 and the subsequent reunification of the city)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.irib.ir/worldservice/imam/palestin_E/10.htm ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL QUDS DAY by Ayatollah Khomeini’s message dated 16 July 1982 (25 Tir 1361 AHS). Sahifa-yi Nur, Vol. 16, pp. 226-227. ]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1604251,00.html Jihad and jingoism on Iran's streets Guardian Unlimited on Quds Day demonstrations] ,
* [http://indybay.org/uploads/2003/11/24/al-quds_international_day_observed.22nov03.pdf Al-Quds International Day 2003]
* [http://indybay.org/uploads/2003/11/20/international_al-quds_day_observed.21nov03.pdf Imam Khamenei's Remarks on Al-Quds International Day 2003]
* [http://indybay.org/uploads/2005/11/01/jerusalem_20international_20day_202005.special.edition.pdf Al-Quds International Day 2005]
* [http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/51247.php Al-Quds International Day 2006]
* [http://www.when-is.com/quds-day.asp When is Quds Day?]