Hundreds of protesters hit the streets of Islamabad on Quds Day, and burned Israeli and American flags in a display of solidarity with Palestine on Friday.
Allam Raja Nasir Abbass, the President of the Shiite political organisation Majis Wahdatul Muslimeen, addressed the crowd of protesters and said that the day is aimed at exposing “the Western and Jewish media, as they are hiding the Palestine issue.”
He sent out a message to Palestinians by saying “you are not alone, not isolated. All the brave sons of Muslims in the world are with you.” He added “to send a message to the Americans, Israel and the international imperialism, we will not allow you to hide or neglect the Palestinian issue.”
Young protesters were spotted in cages or with their hands tied up in chains, symbolising the condition of Palestinians. Protesters were also holding signs reading “Free Palestine” or “Unity against injustice.”
Known as Quds Day, which in Arabic means the Day of Jerusalem, the march takes place each year on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan and has drawn massive crowds since it was introduced in 1979 by the late Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Khomeini.