Iranian president calls for massive turnout on International Qods Day

TEHRAN,July 23(MNA) – President Hassan Rouhani called on the Iranian people to turn out in large numbers for the International Qods Day rallies, which will be held on Friday. International Qods Day is a day of solidarity with Palestine observed on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. Anti-Zionist demonstrations are held on Qods Day all over the world, especially in Iran, where the event was inaugurated after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The late Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, made the proposal to establish an international day of solidarity with Palestinians in August of that year. “A massive turnout for this year’s Qods Day rallies means stronger support for the oppressed Palestinian people and is a clear message to the usurping Zionist regime that the outcome of aggression, killing, and usurpation is defeat,” Rouhani said in a statement issued on Tuesday. The Iranian people will stand by the oppressed Palestinian people and are hopeful that the Palestinian people would be able to emerge victorious in their campaign against aggressors and usurpers in the near future, the president said. On Tuesday, a number of Iranian individuals, organizations, and political groups also issued statements inviting the people to participate in the demonstrations on Qods Day.