It's been a tradition since 1979, when Jimmy Carter helped usher in the era of Islamic extremist rule In Iran.
Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day was the brainchild of Ayatollah Khomeini. In August of 1979, he said:
"I invite Muslims all over the globe to consecrate the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan as Quds Day and to proclaim the international solidarity of Muslims in support of the legitimate rights of the Muslim people of Palestine." "For many years, I have been notifying the Muslims of the danger posed by the usurper Israel which today has intensified its savage attacks against the Palestinian brothers and sisters, and which, in the south of Lebanon in particular, is continually bombing Palestinian homes in the hope of crushing the Palestinian struggle. I ask all the Muslims of the world and the Muslim governments to join together to sever the hand of this usurper and its supporters. I call on all the Muslims of the world to select as Quds Day the last Friday in the holy month of Ramadan - which is itself a determining period and can also be the determiner of the Palestinian people’s fate - and through a ceremony demonstrating the solidarity of Muslims world-wide, announce their support for the legitimate rights of the Muslim people. I ask God Almighty for the victory of the Muslims over the infidels."
The faithful have followed Ayatollah Khomeini's call to "consecrate the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan."
Today, millions of the religious spilled out into the streets to participate in rallies to support Palestinians via the destruction of the "usurper and its supporters" (AKA Israel and the United States).
According to the Islamic Republic News Agency:
On the occasion of the World Qods Day, the Iranian senior officials by participating in a rally condemned crimes of the Qods occupying regime and its supporters and supported the oppressed Palestinians.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here Friday condemned the atrocities of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian people and said, "Why don't you let the black box of the Zionist regime be decoded? He asked supporters of the Zionist regime while addressing ralliers in the World Qods Day rallies.
"If the Western leaders are not members of the Zionist party, they should allow an international fact finding group decode the black box," he added.
"Nations should be allowed to conduct research on crimes of the Zionist regime and decode the black box for its atrocities," Ahmadinejad continued.
"They violate sanctity of prophets and insult human dignity and democracy and say they have nothing to do with these acts.
"You have turned what you call Holocaust into a holy issue and do not let anybody raise any question about it."
Ahmadinejad stated, "Events took place in the World War II.
Later, they committed a historical genocide in Palestine. They ratified unlimited and holy rights for themselves and introduced all nations as criminals.
"They allowed themselves to commit whatever crimes under the pretext of the Holocaust. They even built secret prisons in Europe and attacked and imposed economic sanctions against a nation who did not officially recognize the Zionist regime."
"Today, Qods is not an issue only related to Palestine and the Middle East but a case of world of humanity," Ahmadinejad said.
He stated that creation of the Zionist regime, continuation of its existence, its performance and unlimited support for the regime (by the US) are an insult to human dignity.
...[Minister of Culture and the Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harandi] said, "Qods Day is a day of confrontation between the whole blasphemy against the whole Islam and a symbol of shouting of the world oppressed people against arrogant powers."
Well, those are inspiring words from Ahmadinejad.
It boggles my mind that the end of the "holy" month of Ramadan is devoted to rallies calling for the annihilation of Israel.
How holy!
What a message!
Love and Peace!
Is this what Islam is really about?
TEHRAN (AFP) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday launched a new tirade against Israel amid growing tensions with the West, vowing to work to abolish the Jewish state and questioning the scale of the Holocaust.
Ahmadinejad said Iran would strive to liberate "all of Palestine" from Israeli hands, in a speech to mark the Quds day, where Iran holds its annual mass protest marches in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Tens of thousands of Iranians turned out for the march in central Tehran, carrying anti-Zionist banners, chanting "Death to Israel" and burning Israeli and American flags.
"The Palestinian people are standing firm. The Iranian people and other peoples will not stop until all of Palestinian territory is liberated," Ahmadinejad told the faithful at Tehran University.
...Despite the heavily politicised nature of the Tehran demonstration, there was a festive mood with the numerous children present having their faces painted as cats and rabbits in entertainment laid-on by the municipality.
"I come every year because the Palestinians are helpless and they cannot defend themselves. I come here to here to attract the world's attention to their plight," said Somayeh Salim, 27.
She was carrying an Israeli flag in her rucksack: "I am going to burn it."
Some photos of the Muslim faithful:
An Iranian demonstrator prays in front of an anti-Israel banner during Friday prayers, after a demonstration to mark Jerusalem Day in Tehran October 5, 2007. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN)
Palestinian supporters of Islamic Jihad burn representations of the American flag, as they march during rally marking Jerusalem Day in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Oct. 5, 2007.(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Lebanese women wave Hezbollah and Palestinian flags as they gather at the Fatima Gate border fence with Israel to stage a demonstration for 'Al-Quds Day', Jerusalem day, in the southern town of Kfar Kila, Lebanon Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Last Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is observed in many Muslim countries as 'Al-Quds Day,' as a way of expressing support to the Palestinians and emphasizing the importance of Jerusalem to Muslims. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Pakistani women stage a demonstration for 'Al-Quds Day' (Jerusalem Day), in Karachi, Pakistan on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Jamal Ahmed)
Protesters shout slogans to mark the International Al-Quds Day during a demonstration in front of Fatih Mosque in Istanbul October 5, 2007. The banner reads "Intifada in Palestine, struggle in Iraq will win". REUTERS/Fatih Saribas (TURKEY)
Protesters attend a demonstration in front of Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, October 5, 2007, to mark the annual Al-Quds Day. The banner reads "Killer Israel get out of Palestine. Jerusalem has been under Zionist invasion for 40 years." REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY)
Palestinians children take part in a rally to mark the Jerusalem Day at the Yarmuok refugee camp near Damascus October 5, 2007. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA)
Afghan students at Kabul University burn an effigy of U.S. President George W. Bush, as they shout anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans during an anti-Israel demonstration to mark the Jerusalem Day in Kabul, Afghanistan on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Hundreds students show their support to Palestinian people. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Afghans carry effigies of the U.S. President Geroge Bush (L) and Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during an anti-Israel rally to mark Jerusalem Day in Kabul October 5, 2007. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood (AFGHANISTAN)
How are we to deal with this sort of extremism?
FIRST, there should be unconditional denouncement of Ahmadinejad's remarks. No wishy-washy, Dr. Phil-type analysis. None of that "Let's understand what makes them hate Israel and the U.S." stuff.
Ahmadinejad is a thug. Those buying into his philosophy are thugs. There should be zero-tolerance for Ahmadinejad's comments.
ZERO.
SECOND, any world leader or group who sympathizes with Ahmadinejad is as dangerous as he is. Any world leader or group who cozies up with terrorists in the name of helping the Palestinian people is a disgrace. Jimmy Carter comes to mind.
The civilized world cannot look the other way while the ideology of hate and war that Ahmadinejad and like-minded thugs promote gains momentum.
They are evil. There should be no hesitation to designate them as such.
THIRD, absolutely no nukes can be allowed to get in the hands of unstable warmongers like Ahmadinejad.
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