Qods Day

In Iran the last Friday of Ramadan is dedicated to Jerusalem (Qods in Farsi). In Homeini’s words (official English translation is extremely confusing): ˝[sic] Qods day is global day. It’s not allocated day to Qods. It’s opposition day of poors against of imperialism. Today is islam’s day & Qods’s day & expectation philosophy˝. Wise words short, it is a day to protest against Israeli occupation of the third holiest city of Islam.

It is Friday prayers. Several roads around the Imam Homeini square have been closed to traffic. Throughout the morning lines of mullahs, men, women in black, and children have been filling into a vast square. All around, loudspeakers cry sermons and martial music. In front of the Imam’s mosque thousands of men (the women are placed separately at the back of the square close to the bazaar) sit in rows on the ground. Under the podium a large banners proclaim the flaming slogans: ˝The US administration is an accomplice in Zionists crimes. America is the enemy of the mankind. Future belongs to Hezbollah, etc.˝ Now, before the main sermon, comes the warm-up. Large speakers denounce the criminals. ˝Down with Israel!. Down with America!˝

Unfortunately such demagogies do not help to reassure a dialogue of civilisations.

Postscript by Anna:
I would like to add that even if I agree with the protest against the occupation of the Palestinian territories I am shocked by the message of war and death, especially as children are holding posters about death and hatred without knowing it. It is also important to add that this demonstration has declined in popularity over the last years. According to the people we spoke to there used to be millions of participants. There are rumours that people from the villages are offered money and bus rides to the cities as well as food in exchange for taking part.

A young man said that he was forced to join during his military service. While the soldiers usually had to shave their heads, there was an exception a few weeks before demonstrations like this one, they were ordered to grow their hair in order to blend in and look like civilians.

I believe that the pictures shown in this post are not representative of the opinion of many Iranians, most people we meet are critical about the government of this country.