The Al-Quds Day has been commemorate for almost 50 years on the last Friday of Ramadan, around the world.  Can you tell us more about the London, the UK event, what it stands for and its connection to the Al-Quds Day events worldwide?

Al-Quds Day was the first ever international demonstration to be established in support of Palestinians and all the oppressed around the world. It has been commemorated for almost 50 years.

Al-Quds Day offers a platform for all those who stand for justice, against colonialism, oppression and apartheid to come together to be the voice of victims, no matter who they are or what their racial or religious background

Who organises the UK event and what, if any, role does the Islamic Human Rights Commission have?

The UK event is organised by the UK Al-Quds Committee involving many organisations among which IHRC LTD is prominent.

If this event was called for in Ramadan by a Muslim leader, why do so many Jews, Christians and people of other faiths and none take part in the march and rally and speak from the platform?

Al-Quds Day was initiated by Ayatollah Khomeini right after the 1979 revolution. It’s a call to humanity to stand up against oppression and injustice. Although there is an added spiritual impetus for Muslims to take advantage of the occasion of Ramadan, it is an inclusive event that is open to all.

The event has been routinely maligned by pro-Israel figures, from MPs and Zionist media to far-right figures and Iranian monarchists.  What impact has that demonisation had on the event?

The Zionist and pro-Zionist establishment never waste an opportunity to attack and try to silence any articulation of opposition to Zionism, apartheid, genocide and genocidal acts. It’s hardly surprising to see them try and throw as much mud and create false narratives against Al-Quds Day.

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There are many accusations against Al-Quds Day, can you respond to some specific allegations below:

The event is anti-British

Al-Quds Day has been routinely maligned by pro-Zionist figures with the aim of inciting hatred and violence. Their efforts have resulted in terror attacks on our streets. At the 2017 Al-Quds Day rally a massacre was narrowly averted when the far right terrorist Darren Osborne, who had been inspired by online articles against Muslims in pro-Israel publications, failed to breach the police cordon to attack demonstrators. He changed his choice of target to Muslim worshippers at Finsbury Park Mosque, ramming his truck into a group of worshippers and killing an elderly man.

Al-Quds Day is anti-oppression, anti-apartheid, anti-genocide, anti-occupation and anti-racist. The overwhelming number of people attending are British.

The event is antisemitic 

Here we go again. Every time anyone stands against genocide, apartheid and the systematic abuses committed by Israel we hear this accusation. It’s designed to vilify and shut down supporters of the Palestinian cause. The absurdity of such allegations can be seen in the fact that there is always a sizeable presence of Jews at the event saying “not in my name”.

The event promotes terrorism allowing people to carry the flag of Hizbullah (until it was proscribed in the UK in 2019).

Al-Quds Day has always been very careful to operate within the law of the land. When Hizbullah, Hamas and other organisations weren’t proscribed people had the right to support them. But when they were banned, organisers advised participants to act accordingly. The event is actually anti-terrorism in that it is a protest against Israeli state terrorism.

What is your view on the calls to ban the event this year?

It is not just this year and not only directed at IHRC. Zionists and their supporters have been trying to get all pro-Palestine activity banned. It is turning Britain into an extension of the oppression that exists in occupied Palestine. We cannot allow them to block the right of people to stand up against genocide and illegal occupation. In fact, this is more than just a right, it is a duty.

Recently you referred to pro-Israel UK politicians as “Israel First” – what do you guys mean by that term? What makes them “Israel First”?

For personal and financial reasons, they are putting the interests of a genocidal foreign state above their commitment to their constituents and the interests of Britain, particularly this nation’s commitments under international law.

MPs are claiming that there is a risk of public disorder at the event – how do you respond to that?

There has never been disorder from attendees of Al-Quds. Indeed the police have often remarked about the peaceful family-oriented nature of the event. The only risk of disorder has always come from pro-Israel counter protesters. Some pro-Israeli MPs are whipping up hate amongst their Zionist support base, egging them on to attack our peaceful rally and then pre-empting the violence of their own making by calling for our peaceful event to be banned. 

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The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

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