Culture Min: Int’l Qods Day To Be Held In 57 Islamic Countries This Year

Tehran, April 24, IRNA – Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister said here Monday upon Iran’s proposal and OIC’s approval, as of this year International Qods Day rallies would be held simultaneously in entire 57 Islamic countries on the last Friday of the Holy month of Ramadan. Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, who was speaking Monday night at Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) TV’s “Two Half Hours” added: “Also based on a proposal by the Islamic Republic of Iran and the approval of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), it was agreed that the 10th OIC Summit would be held in Tehran in the year 2003. According to Hosseini, also in order to support the oppressed Palestinian nation and to confront the moves made by the enemies of Islam in their Islamophobia and anti-Islamic propagation, an internet TV network would be launched with the collaboration of the Islamic countries and Iran is a member of its Executive Committee. The annual anti-Zionist day of protest was conceived originally by the late leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini (P). In August 1979, the year of the Revolution, in solidarity with the Palestinians, Khomeini declared the liberation of Jerusalem a religious duty to all Muslims./end