Protesters in Tehran marked Al-Quds day by setting ablaze flags of the United States and Israel. A large assembly congregated in the Iranian capital, displaying Iranian flags and applauding speeches delivered by notable clerics. The gathering, in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, featured processions and patriotic festivities.
Video footage captured in Iran depicted thousands of demonstrators in the streets burning American and Israeli flags while chanting slogans like “death to America” and “death to Israel.” The annual Quds day march, established by revolutionary figure Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979, occurs on the final Friday of Ramadan and garners global observance from pro-Palestine factions.
Khomeini originally conceived the event as a worldwide appeal for Muslim unity in support of Palestinians and against Israeli jurisdiction in Jerusalem. In the UK, authorities have forbidden a scheduled pro-Palestinian Al Quds day march to avert potential public disturbances.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood sanctioned the prohibition after a request from London’s Metropolitan Police, marking the first demonstration restriction in London in over ten years. The decision to ban the march stemmed from concerns over perceived endorsement of the Iranian government during the annual pro-Palestine rally.
In justifying the ban, Ms. Mahmood emphasized the necessity to forestall significant public disorder amid the large-scale protest and numerous counter-protests amidst the ongoing Middle East conflicts. She also underscored the enforcement of strict regulations if a stationary demonstration were to proceed, emphasizing the need to uphold peaceful protest rights while condemning any spread of hatred and division.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which coordinates the demonstration, has maintained that the protest is consistently peaceful and amicable. This marks the first instance of a protest march being prohibited since 2012.