what is al quds day
Al-Quds Day is an annual political and religious solidarity day held on the last Friday of Ramadan to protest the occupation of Palestine and express support for Palestinians, especially regarding Jerusalem (Al-Quds).
What is Al-Quds Day?
- It is marked every year on the last Friday of the Islamic month of Ramadan.
- “Al-Quds” is the Arabic name for Jerusalem, a city that holds deep religious significance in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
- The day is observed with marches, rallies, and speeches calling for an end to Israeli control over Jerusalem and the wider occupation of Palestinian territories.
How did it start?
- Al-Quds Day was declared in 1979 by Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, shortly after the Islamic Revolution.
- He called on Muslims worldwide to dedicate the last Friday of Ramadan to supporting the rights of Palestinians and opposing the occupation of Jerusalem.
- It began in Iran but has since spread, with events now held in various countries across the Middle East, Europe, and elsewhere.
What happens on that day?
Common forms of observance include:
- Public marches and demonstrations in major cities.
- Speeches by religious and political leaders about Palestine, Jerusalem, and resistance.
- Slogans and banners calling for the “liberation” of Jerusalem and support for Palestinians.
- In some places, large community iftars (breaking of the fast) and religious gatherings are organized around the theme of solidarity.
Different viewpoints and controversies
Al-Quds Day is viewed very differently depending on political and community perspectives:
- Supporters (including many pro-Palestinian and some Muslim groups) see it as:
- A global day of solidarity with Palestinians.
* A reminder of the humanitarian and political issues around occupation and displacement.
* An attempt to keep Jerusalem and Palestine at the center of Muslim and global consciousness.
- Critics (including many Israeli, Jewish communal, and Western critics) argue that in practice it can:
- Serve as a platform for harshly anti-Israel rhetoric linked to the Iranian government.
* Feature hostile slogans such as “Death to Israel,” and sometimes “Death to America,” which they see as incitement and a “war cry” rather than peaceful solidarity.
* Create tension and fear, especially in cities where Jewish communities feel targeted by the tone of some rallies.
- Some organizers and supporters of Al-Quds events in Western countries stress that:
- The day is meant to oppose Israeli policies and Zionism, not Judaism or Jews as a people.
* They reject characterizations of the rallies as inherently antisemitic and frame them instead as human-rights and anti-apartheid demonstrations.
These competing narratives are a big part of why Al-Quds Day is often in the news and heavily debated online and in forums.
Why is it a trending or sensitive topic now?
- With ongoing violence, wars in Gaza, and broader regional tensions, Al-Quds Day regularly becomes a flashpoint for demonstrations and counter-demonstrations.
- Each year, footage from rallies, controversial slogans, and official statements from Iran and allied groups spark debate on social media and in news outlets about extremism, free speech, and solidarity with Palestinians.
In many online discussions, you’ll see people split between framing Al-Quds Day as a necessary show of support for an oppressed people versus seeing it as a state-driven, confrontational campaign tied to Iran and militant groups.
Very short TL;DR
Al-Quds Day is a yearly, last-Friday-of-Ramadan day of marches and rallies focused on Jerusalem and Palestine, started by Iran’s leadership in 1979, seen by supporters as pro-Palestinian solidarity and by critics as a confrontational, often extremist, anti-Israel mobilization.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.