Int'l Quds Day, Not Merely for Muslims
Sheikh Abbas Bahmanpour, who is an expert on Islamic studies, Islam, religious studies, Islamic history, Iranian studies, Shi'ism, and history of Shia Islam, made the remark in an interview with IQNA as this year's International Quds Day approaches.
Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in August 1979 declared the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as International Quds Day, calling on Muslims across the world to mark the annual occasion by holding street rallies.
Since then, millions of people around the world take to the streets on this day in a show of support for the people of Palestine, demanding an end to the Zionist regime's occupation of Palestinian lands.
Sheikh Abbas Bahmanpour believes that the Quds day is not event for Muslims only but it is a world issue.
Here is the interview in full:
Q: The Middle East today is very different from that when Imam Khomeini proposed the commemoration of International Quds Day, the geopolitical constructs have changed over the years.
How relevant do you think it is today? What makes people come out year after year to
mark this day?
A: Even though many things have changed in the Middle-East since the 80s, the issue of Israeli occupation has only worsened. Arguably Palestinians are worse off now than they were before, and Israeli war crimes are becoming ever more audacious and atrocious.
With the advent of social media the global online population is waking up to the reality of what is going on in Occupied Palestine and more and more people are seeing through the lies of the media war designed to muddy the issue. International media has long tried to portray the issue as two sides that are somehow equally to blame and both are caught in a "cycle of violence".
The reality is that Palestinians have always had a right to defend their land against the colonialist invaders and that Israel is year by year illegally expanding its settlements and has transformed the Palestinian territories into the world's biggest open-air prison. Palestinians are treated with grave injustice and Israeli aggression and persecution of Palestinians is ceaseless and daily. To many who care about humanity and justice, the oppression that Palestinians face in every moment of their lives is becoming ever more clear. I believe this is what is bringing people out to demonstrate.
Q: What is the significance of the International Quds Day, especially given the current Israeli aggressions on Palestine?
A: Demonstration has always been a way of the people expressing their political opinion and discontent. This year, people are even more incensed due to the belligerent aggression of the Israeli armed forces and their indiscriminate use of force. Those who are following the events can clearly see how Israel deliberately targets civilians, a case in point being the murder of four young Palestinian boys playing on a beach.
Q: Many non-Muslims, too, take part in International Quds Day rallies in different countries. What does that indicate?
A: I disagree with the premise of the question, which suggests that Quds day is somehow an event for Muslims. The issue of Palestine is by no means limited to Muslims or Middle-Easterners, nor should it be. Just like the struggle of blacks against the apartheid of South Africa was not limited to blacks. Palestine is about justice and injustice. Palestine is about freedom and oppression. Palestine is about humanity. These issues are not limited to any one race or creed. Anyone who cares about these issues will care about the Palestinian cause.
Q: How do the rallies held on this day play a role in boosting Islamic unity?
A: As mentioned Palestine is an issue that ideally unites all those who care about morality and justice, as such any Muslim will feel an obligation to show solidarity with the Palestinian cause. A common cause will help Muslims realise they have more shared interests than they do ideological differences.
Q: What can the Muslim world do, other than holding rallies, to support the oppressed Palestinians?
A: As I said, I believe it is not just up to the Muslim world to do something, but anyone who believes in freedom and justice. An important movement that all people should take part in is the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. Just as the South African apartheid was brought down by a similar movement so too can the average consumer help end the Israeli apartheid through boycotting Israeli goods.
Q: What is the reason behind global silence over the Israeli attacks on innocent Palestinians in Gaza?
A: Although the media talks a lot about the war, there is a deafening silence on part of the self-proclaimed advocates of human rights on this matter. The same political pundits that were quick to rush to denounce for example Bashar al-Assad or Kiev separatists are strangely silent about similar violence committed by Israel, or Bahrain, or al-Sisi in Egypt, or... These double standards are painfully obvious to anyone who pays the slightest bit of attention.
Q: What is the responsibility of international bodies in this regard?
A: In an ideal world international bodies like the UN or the ICC would at least hold Israel responsible for its war crimes and use of banned weapons over civilian populated areas, as well as its years of ongoing brutal occupation and encroachment. The reality is that such bodies represent naught but vested interests and only truly seek to punish those whom Western powers deem should be punished. The reality is that we cannot rely on these bodies to represent us, the people must make their own voice heard, and that is what Quds day is all about.
Q: Israel failed to achieve its objectives in the previous wars on Gaza. Why then has Tel Aviv started another war?
A: Israel's aggression against the Palestinians is not a random occurrence that needs to be fathomed, it is systematic and has been ongoing since its wrongful establishment. Their agenda is not swayed by concerns of "human rights" or "civilian casualties".
