Ayatollah Khomeini’s heritage – Al Quds Day

Pro-justice and anti-Zionist Apartheid demonstrations are held on this day in most Muslim and Arab countries and by Muslim and non-Muslim communities around the world, including the United States.  It was initiated by the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and oppose Zionism as well as Israel's control of Jerusalem. In Iran, the government sponsors and organizes the day's rallies.

It is held each year on the last Friday of the Muslim month of Ramadhan.  The Day of al-Quds is also an opportunity to stand on the side of the oppressed worldwide, not just in the Holy Land.  Jerusalem Day is not an Islamic religious event but rather a human rights event open to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Al-Quds is Arabic for Jerusalem and its environs, the Holy Land. Yawm al-Quds or al-Quds Day is a day of solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people in their struggle against the Zionist-Apartheid system of Israel. Al-Quds Day also extends beyond Palestine to support all oppressed people in their struggles across the world. All over the world seminars, rallies and marches are held on this day, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan in order to pledge solidarity with those seeking peace through justice.

Who organizes this event?

Since al-Quds Day serves as an international day of solidarity, the event is held in cities across the world including many cities across the U.S. and Canada in general, events in each city are organized by a local ad hoc committee of Muslim activists and students.  Recently many of these ad hoc committees have begun a loose coordination on the national level through alqudsday.org’s sister site, freealquds.org. Currently there is no formal affiliation between the various organizers in different North American cities. The only affiliation between these various groups is a strong stance in support of justice for our oppressed Palestinian sisters and brothers.

Generally the intended audience for these gatherings are local Muslim youths and families, although in recent years attendees have expanded to include students as well as anyone supporting justice for the oppressed Palestinian people, whether from a human rights perspective or a Christian or Jewish scriptural perspective.
 
Generally the main focus for al-Quds Day events is to educate and invigorate. More specifically we focus on promoting the consumer boycott of companies that support Israeli Apartheid as a part of the larger Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

As conscientious people, we must sever all forms of support for the Apartheid economy of Israel. We recognize that around the world and particularly in the US there is an ever-expanding boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against the racist State of Israel and its corporate supporters. One facet of this movement is a consumer boycott of those American companies that decide to dirty themselves with their connection to the Apartheid State. These companies are being educated about how their close relationship with the Zionist Apartheid state is a liability.