KARACHI: The Covid-19 pandemic failed to impede the citizens from showing their solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine, and anger against the apartheid state of Israel on Al Quds Day 2020, as the global day was commemorated mostly through digital media in the metropolis.

In many parts of the city, people joined #FlyTheFlag campaign to show solidarity with Palestine, as the Palestine Foundation Pakistan (PLF), following the international stance, launched this campaign inviting people globally to fly the flag for Palestine in the last 10 days of Ramazan.

PLF secretary general Sabir Abu Mariyam, talking to Dawn, said that Palestinians could not be left at the mercy of Israel, as the Zionist state had been declared as “Covid-1948” that owned a black history of atrocities. He said that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called Israeli state as “Zionist virus”.

Describing the history of Quds Day, he said the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan was officially declared as International Quds Day in 1979 by the late founder of Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini against the illegitimate occupation of Israel on the land of Palestine.

Participants express solidarity with Palestinians, Kashmiris and Yemenis

He said that PLF had announced that a “Week of Quds Liberation” would be observed during May 15 to 22 across the country.

He said, “We appealed to the citizens to join the FlyTheFlag campaign, and they joined in a large number.”

The foundation also contacted various leaders of different political parties, and convinced them to release their video message to show solidarity with the cause of Palestine, he said.

“To highlight the global bleeding issue of Palestine, PLF held many press conferences in different cities, including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta etc,” he said.

No massive street demonstration was seen in the city due to the international health crisis, however Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) and Tehreek-i-Azadi-i-Al Quds Pakistan (Movement of Liberation of Al Quds Pakistan) organised a motorbike and car rally that was taken out from different parts of the city, and culminated at the Quaid’s mausoleum.

The organizers said that the government’s health SOPs were followed by the participants of the rally. On the other hand, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) staged an Al Quds demonstration outside Masjid Noor-i-Eeman after Friday prayers.

The motorbike and car rally’s participants, holding the flags of Palestine, were chanting slogans in support of the oppressed Palestinians. The rally echoed with the sounds of anti-US and anti-Israel slogans. Speaking on the occasion, Allama Sadiq Taqvi expressed serious concerns over the silence of Muslim ummah and the Arab League over the crimes of, what they termed, the illegitimate state of Israel against the helpless people.

The central general secretary of ISO Pakistan Ali Awais condemned the ongoing aggression of Israel against Palestinians, and said that even in the lockdown Israel continued its antagonistic policies. He underscored the significance of unity among the Muslims, and said that all issues, including Palestine and Kashmir could be solved if the ummah got united.

In the MWM demonstration, the leaders claimed that the necessary social distancing under SOPs was observed. The demonstrators were carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-Israel and anti-US slogans. A large number of people also hoisted Palestinian flags. The participants were also chanting slogans against Modi’s Indian government that has made Kashmir a torture cell.

MWM leaders, including Allama Baqir Abbas Zaidi, Maulana Mirza Yousuf Hussain, Allama Sadiq Jafari, Allama Mubashir Hassan, Allama Ali Anwar Jafari, Allama Ghulam Abbas Kumaili, Allama Malik Ghulam Abbas and others spoke on the occasion.

The speakers said, “The civilized nations support Palestinians’ demand for state of Palestine in the entire pre-1948 territory of Palestine.”

They also denounced the ongoing atrocities of Indian government in occupied Kashmir, and expressed solidarity with Yemenis. The MWM leaders also demanded end to the war in Yemen.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2020