[Embargoed until 00.01, 9 April 2020]This year’s Al-Quds Day march and rally in London have been cancelled as a result of the Coronavirus epidemic sweeping the country.

It is the first time in over 30 years that the event has had to be cancelled. In the light of the government lockdown and in the interests of public health and safety, IHRC and other co-organisers have had to taken this action with a very heavy heart.

Muslims all around the world set have set aside the last Friday in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to remember Palestine since it was designated by the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, as International Quds Day.

Each year, millions of people rally on the day to voice their support for the Palestinian nation and repeat their call for an end to the Zionist regime’s atrocities and occupation of Palestine. The annual event in London has regularly attracted thousands of participants.

However, the cancellation does not mean that we cannot still remember Palestine. This year IHRC and other organisations[1] are calling on people to fly a Palestinian flag in their window or on their car for the last 10 days of Ramadan to show their support for the people of Palestine[2].

We are also asking people to share art and poetry from Palestine using social media. A list of suggestions is available on our website.

As the Coronavirus rips through countries everywhere, nowhere is the disease likely to be more keenly felt than in Palestine, particularly in Gaza where millions of people live cheek by jowl in one of the most crowded places on earth.

Their suffering is amplified by Israel’s weaponisation of Covid-19 to prevent the entry of much needed medical equipment into Palestine and the passage of Palestinians across checkpoints to access health care in Israel or outside.

For more information or comment please contact the Press Office on (+44) 20 8904 4222 or (+44) 7958522196.

Notes for editors:

[1]. The organisations supporting this call are:

• Islamic Human Rights Commission
• Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission
• Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
• CASMI
• Jewish Network for Palestine
• Campaign Against Criminalising Communities
• Inminds Human Rights Group
• Lebanese Community in Scotland
• Bahraini Community in UK
• Islamic Student Associations in Britain
• Neturei Karta

[2] Find the campaign page here.[ENDS]

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IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Islamic Human Rights Commission

PO Box 598

Wembley

HA9 7XH

United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222

Email: info@ihrc.org

Web: www.ihrc.org Twitter