World Qods Day observed in restive Kashmir

The last Friday of Ramadan today was observed as World Qods Day along with Kashmir Day by Muslims in the strife torn Indian controlled state with massive protest rallies.

The biggest gathering was at historic Grand Mosque of Srinagar where around two hundred thousand people listened to Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, leader of the Hurriyat Conference and Kashmir’s chief cleric.

Mirwaiz emphasized on the need of early freedom for the occupied Muslim lands including Palestine and Kashmir, in order to restore peace in the world.

Denouncing the state terrorism unleashed by Zionist entity in the occupied Palestine and by the Indian state in Kashmir, Mirwaiz said Kashmiris can feel the pain of their suffering brethren in Gaza and elsewhere more as they themselves were facing the onslaught of oppressors for the last sixty years.

He prayed for the speedy liberation of Al-Aqsa and led a massive procession after Friday prayers which passed through various areas of the city.

Processions were also taken out in several places across Kashmir after Friday prayers to decry the US-backed Israeli aggression in Palestine and atrocities of India in Kashmir.

The protestors chanting slogans against America, Israel and India rejected the occupation of Israel and Kashmir.

In central Kashmir district of Budgam, Agha Syed Hassan-al-Mosavi, led thousands in denouncing the Zionist regime.

Chanting slogans like Allahu Akbar and “Down With Israel” massive gathering there also raised slogans in support of Kashmir’s freedom from India.

Agha Hassan, who is also a senior Shia leader and member of Hurriyat Conference, described Israel a criminal entity.

Similar protests were held in Hassanabad and Sajjad Abad in Srinagar.

Senior Shia cleric Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari speaking in Sajjadia Mosque on the occasion, said that this day was being observed to make international community aware about its responsibility towards resolving Kashmir and Palestine issues.

He paid rich tributes to 65 martyrs who were killed by Indian security forces in the present uprising.

Ansari said the people’s movement would not be cowed down by arrests and repression.

In his speech he asked people to remain united and fight forces that want to create differences among the freedom fighters of Kashmir.

Ansari said Kashmiris had given countless sacrifices since 1947 for their right to self-determination, and Kashmir Day was being observed today in all parts of Kashmir to pay homage to those who have sacrificed their lives for the cause. He said this day ‘we pledge to continue the struggle.’

Earlier during his Friday sermon, Srinagar, Chief patron of JKIM Maulana Abbas Ansari reminded Muslims that this International Al-Quds Day is needed more than ever, as the Zionist regime had tightened its grip on the Palestinian people.

“The usurper regime has heightened pressure over the Palestinians after facing back-to-back defeats. They could not keep their dreadful image in the hearts of Arab nations due to the valiant resistance of Palestinian people inspite of severe economic blockade of the Gaza.”

“The Al-Quds Day is a favourable chance for the world of Islam to look into the affairs of the oppressed Muslim brothers and show solidarity with the oppressed people, both in Palestine and other places like Kashmir,” added Abbas Ansari.

Later on a huge procession was taken out from Jamia Sajjadia.

Reports of World Qods Day observance are pouring in from various other quarters of Kashmir.

The last Friday of Ramzan was instituted as the World Qods Day by the leader of the Islamic revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Ruhulah Khomeini, in support of the liberation of the Masjid-al-Aqsa, or the Holy Quds, in Jerusalem al-Quds from Zionist occupation.

The day is observed throughout the Muslim world in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for justice, and was later designated by the Kashmiri leadership to symbolise the movement in this region as well.