Hassan Dai

Annual Quds (Jerusalem) Day rally, initiated by Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979, is used as a platform to escalate the hatred against Israel and portray the Iranian regime as the champion of the Palestinian cause and the leader of the Islamic world. Quds Day provides Iran with a formidable tool to recruit among Muslims worldwide and forge an alliance with left and anti-Israeli organizations in the West

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Introduction

Each year, on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, the Iranian regime and its affiliates around the world, stage the annual Quds (Jerusalem) Day rally. The event that was initiated by Ayatollah Khomeini the founder of Islamic Republic in 1979, is used as a platform to escalate the hatred against Israel and portray the Iranian regime as the champion of the Palestinian cause and the leader of the Islamic world.

For the past four decades, animosity toward Israel has been the most permanent pillar of Iranian foreign policy. It helps the clerical regime to overcome the Shia-Sunni divide and enforce its claim to regional leadership.

Quds Day in Berlin, Germany

The Iranian regime brands itself as the Absolute Clerical Rule, the representative of God on Earth and the guardian of the Islamic faith. It assumes for itself a historical and ideological role to liberate the Muslim Nation from the oppression and domination of the West led by the United States. In this context, Israel is considered as the symbol of Western presence in the Islamic world, like a cancerous tumor that must be eliminated sooner or later. This narrative is an important part of the clerical regime’s ideology that legitimizes its rule.

According to Iranian leaders, the Islamic world is still at war with the West, as a continuation of the Crusades, an ongoing war between Islam and the West. This worldview was well illustrated in a February 2014 speech by Qassem Soleimani, the chief commander of Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force:

“After the fall of Andalusia in 1492, the Islamic world began to decline. During this period of decline, the Ottoman Empire, as a vast Islamic empire that included much of the Islamic world collapsed, and Britain and France fragmented it and divided among themselves. This decline of the Islamic world reached point zero with the fall of Jerusalem in 1967. The Jews conquered the Quds in the heart of the Islamic world. But, with the victory of the Islamic Revolution under the leadership of Imam Khomeini the decline of the Islamic world has stopped, the trend has turned upward, and the Islamic world has begun to rise up again.”

Watch short documentary: “Iranian regime’s anti-Semitism and crusade against Israel”

Since the first days of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini attempted to take control of the Palestinian issue. But, in the 80s, the Palestinian Liberation Organization was dominated by both left-wing and secular groups and therefore posed a threat against Khomeini’s ambitions. In response, he initiated the International Quds day in a bid to cast the Palestinian cause as an Islamic issue and pave the way for Iran to high jack this movement.

Each year, the Iranian regime dedicates an enormous amount of resources to stage the Quds day rally in Iran and mobilizes its affiliates abroad to organize the event. Anti-Israeli position and Quds Day provides Iran with a formidable tool to recruit among Muslims worldwide, notably Muslim immigrants in the West and helps Iran to forge an alliance with anti-Israeli and left organizations in these countries.

Iranian regime’s anti-Israeli crusade and events like Quds Day, have an anti-Semitic nature since Iran calls for the eradication of Israel and frames Israel as part of the global Zionism, promoting the European – Nazi stereotypes which depict the Jews as powerful and wealthy conspirators who control the global finance, dominate Western governments and media, and instigate crisis and wars to further their agenda. (Read the report: “How the Iranian regime promotes anti-Semitism in Iran”)

Quds Day rally, Baghdad, 2018

Al-Mustafa international university, with more than one hundred branches around the world, released a statement in July 2015, calling its foreign students to participate in Quds Day rally, and showed the Iranian regime’s anti-Semitism: “Our late Imam Khomeini’s initiative to create Quds day is a show of support by the Islamic nation for Palestinians… The crimes committed by terrorists and Takfirists in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the mass killing of innocent people in Yemen are all the result of inter-related plots by a bunch of racist Zionists who control the power and commanding centers in Europe and the US. Soon, a historic change will take place in the region, and Islam will emerge victoriously. The unified presence of Muslims in Quds day will demonstrate that fake Israel is rapidly arriving at its end. Al-Mustafa affirms that the Islamic awakening movement led by Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of Muslims, will continue its march toward victory.”

 

Organizations involved in staging Quds day in foreign countries

The Iranian regime is using various “cultural” and “religious” organizations to disseminate its fundamentalist ideology abroad and generate grassroots support for its foreign policy. The two main organizations responsible for carrying out this mission are the “Islamic Culture and Relations Organization” (ICRO) which operates through the Cultural Attachés at Iranian embassies and the Al-Mustafa International University which trains foreign clerics and missionaries around the world. As part of their mission, these organizations fuel anti-Israeli hatred and play a key role in staging the Quds Day rally.

The “Islamic Culture and Relations Organization” (ICRO) is an umbrella organization created by the Iranian Supreme Leader in 1995 to coordinate the activities of various organizations responsible for religious and cultural activities abroad.  ICRO is in the ministry of culture and Islamic Guidance and operates the cultural attachés  in the Iranian embassies. ICRO and its affiliated organizations control a large number of Mosques and Islamic centers abroad and collaborate with other local Islamic centers across the globe. ICRO’s most important subordinate organizations are:

– The Ahl al-Bayt World Assembly promotes Shiism and is responsible for relations with Shiites around the world.

–  The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought is responsible for relations with non-Shiite Muslims around the world.

– The Islamic Development Organization (IDO), which in Farsi translates as the Islamic Propaganda Organization. IDO publishes religious and propaganda materials and sends religious missionaries to foreign countries.

– The Qom Seminary Office of Islamic Propaganda involved in sending missionaries and clerics abroad.

“The Center for Interreligious Dialogue & Civilization” (CID), is involved in holding philosophical, legal, social, political and cultural dialogue with regional and international religious figures and institutions as well as with religious minorities inside and outside Iran.

Another important Iranian organization involved in exporting the Iranian regime’s ideology abroad is Al-Mustafa international university. Founded in 2007, Al-Mustafa trains foreign clerics, scholars, and missionaries. Its main campuses are in Iran with more than one hundred branches around the world. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is the highest authority of Al-Mustafa University. Al-Mustafa has over 40.000 students, half of them studying in University campuses in Iran. Since 2007, more than 45.000 clerics and Islamic scholars have graduated from Al-Mustafa, a good portion of them have been hired by the university as teaching staff or missionaries sent to different countries around the globe.

Quds Day rally around the world

Raising the Palestinian issue and fueling anti-Israeli hatred around the world, are high priorities for the Iranian regime. Organization of Quds Day rally is an important part of this mission. Depending the extent of Iranian religious or cultural influence in each country, and considering diplomatic restrictions, the level of Iranian direct and open involvement in staging Quds Day rally could vary significantly.

In some Middle Eastern countries like Lebanon and Iraq, powerful Iranian proxies stage Quds Day rally and Iranian embassies or other Iran-affiliated organizations are openly sponsoring and participating in the event.

Iran’s Shiite proxy militias in Iraq hold Quds Day rally in Baghdad

In Africa, Al-Mustafa University, the ICRO, and other organizations tied to Iran stage Quds Day rally. It should be noted that ICRO and its subordinated organizations control a large number of Mosques and Islamic centers across Africa. Al-Mustafa also has a strong presence in this continent and has 18 main branches and operates Islamic schools and seminaries in 30 African countries. There are approximately 5000 African students in Al-Mustafa’s branches in Africa and its campuses in Iran. Thousands of graduates are used as missionaries across Africa to spread Iran’s ideology.

Quds Day, Kano, Nigeria 2016

Here are the reports of Quds Day rallies in  Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Uganda.

In some Asian countries, where Iran has an important web of influence, Quds Day rally gathers Muslim and pro-Iran participants. For example, in Afghanistan, Iran enjoys considerable political and religious influence, notably in Shia dominated regions and Western provinces and controls a network of Mosques, Shiite seminaries, and Islamic centers. Most of these centers are connected to and managed by Al Mustafa International University. According to Al Mustafa officials, the University has 40 seminaries in Afghanistan, and its graduates have considerable influence within the Afghan government and media. There are nearly 15000 Afghan students enrolled in Shiite seminaries in Iran.

Similarly, in the Muslim country of Pakistan with an important Shia minority, Iran is using its network of Mosques and Islamic centers to stage the Quds Day rally in several cities.

Quds Day rally, Karachi, Pakistan

In India, the pro-Iranian network organizes Quds Day rally in several cities.

Quds Day in New Delhi, India

In several other Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, the event is organized by pro-Tehran Muslim associations.

Quds Day in Khulna, Bangladesh

Iran also has a strong presence in several Latin American countries. Iran’s main ally is Venezuela and has close and friendly relations with the so-called “leftist governments” of Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua. These relations have helped Iran to gain a foothold in the continent and expand its influence. As a result, Iran has been able to establish a network of Islamic and Cultural Centers that target expatriate Muslim communities. During a 2014 interview, cleric Mohsen Rabbani who is Iran’s point man for religious activities in Latin America bragged about Iranian success in Latin America and declared: “we began our activities in Argentina in the early 1980s and built the Towhid Mosque in Buenos Aires. Today, 45 Islamic Centers are spreading the Islamic message in 21 Latin American countries.”

The Cultural attachés in the Iranian embassies and Iran-affiliated Islamic centers organize Quds Day events in several Latin American countries like in Venezuela, in Ecuador, in Uruguay, and in Argentina .

Quds Day rally, Caracas, Venezuela

Quds Day rallies are organized in several European countries, notably in England and Germany, where Iran has religious and political presence within the Muslim immigrant communities. The friendly attitude of these two countries toward Iran has provided the clerical regime with considerable freedom of action to spread its fundamentalist ideology. (see the report “Iranian regime’s network of Islamic Centers, seminaries and Mosques in Europe”)

In Germany, Iran has a vast network of Mosques and Islamic centers which sponsor Quds Day rally. Dr. Kazem Mousavi, co-founder of “Green Party of Iran” and the editor of “Iran Appeasement Monitor” who has been relentlessly exposing Iranian regime’s activities in Germany and opposing Quds Day rally in Germany, has posted a comprehensive and valuable report about this event and role of Iran-affiliated organizations in Germany  in sponsoring and staging Quds Day rally.  (Der antisemitische Al-Quds-Marsch: Eine Gefahr für die Sicherheit Deutschlands)

 

Iranian Cleric Hamidreza Torabi during the Quds day rally in Berlin, 9 June 2018. Torabi heads the Islamic Academy of Germany – part of the Iranian regime-owned Islamic Center of Hamburg 

Iran’s most active Islamic Center in Germany is” the Islamic Center of Hamburg.” According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, “the Iranian regime-owned Islamic Center of Hamburg charters buses with the Iranian regime and Hezbollah supporters to travel to Berlin to march in the Quds Day rally.” In 2009, the Hamburg center created an umbrella organization called “the Islamic Association of Shiite Congregations in Germany” (IGS). According to Fars News, a news website tied to Iran Revolutionary Guards. “the IGS is largest Shiites organization in Germany with 500.000 members. 152 Mosques and Islamic centers representing muslin immigrants from different countries work with IGS.” The chairman of IGS’s “scholar board” was until recently the cleric Reza Ramezani, the former Imam of Islamic Center in Hamburg who according to government press in Tehran and the German newspaper Bild, “is the representative of Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Germany.” The center also has the Imam Ali Mosque at the same location. IGS is a key sponsor of Quds Day rally in Berlin.

In 2009, the Hamburg center created an umbrella organization called “the Islamic Association of Shiite Congregations in Germany” (IGS). According to Fars News, a news website tied to Iran Revolutionary Guards. “the IGS is largest Shiites organization in Germany with 500.000 members. 152 Mosques and Islamic centers representing muslin immigrants from different countries work with IGS.” The chairman of IGS’s “scholar board” was until recently the cleric Reza Ramezani, the former Imam of Islamic Center in Hamburg who according to government press in Tehran and the German newspaper Bild, “is the representative of Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Germany.” The center also has the Imam Ali Mosque at the same location. IGS is a key sponsor of Quds Day rally in Berlin.

Dr. Kazem Mousavi, the editor of “Iran Appeasement Monitor” who has been relentlessly exposing Iranian regime’s activities in Germany and opposing Quds Day rally in Germany, has posted a comprehensive report about this event and role of Iran-ties organizations.

In England, the Iranian regime’s affiliates organize the annual Quds Day rally in London, attracting several thousand Muslim immigrants and part of the anti-Israeli left. During the event, clerics tied to the Iranian regime are the key speakers, and Hezbollah flags are flown.

Iranian clerics lead the Quds Day rally in London

Tehran’s point man in London for the organization of Quds Day rally is Massoud Shadjareh, the head of London based “The Islamic Human Rights Commission” (IHRC), an organization which is mainly involved in pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli activities.

Massoud Shadjareh, head of “The Islamic Human Rights Commission” is Iran’s point man in England to organize Quds Day and other anti-Israeli events

Shadjareh regularly travels to Iran where he participates in the regime-sponsored conference and appears on National TV to defend the regime’s foreign policy. For example, he participated in a human rights show organized by the regime titled: “Islamic Human Rights & Human Dignity Day” and was interviewed by the governmental press.  Massoud Shadjareh was also a key speaker at Iranian regime-sponsored Imam Khomeini Conferencewhich was held in 2013 in London.

Traditionally, Tehran-sponsored Quds Day rally and other anti-Israeli events in England are supported by part of British left organizations. Jeremy Corbyn and several other leaders of these organizations have been among the speakers in Quds Day rally in Lindon.

In the US, Iran is using its network of Islamic Centers to raise the Palestinian issue and fuel hatred toward Israel. These Centers, especially the Iran-tied “Muslim Congress” are involved in staging Quds Day rallies in the US.

Quds Day Flyer posted by Iran-tied “Muslim Congress”

The rallies are held in New York and several other cities around the US. (See some pictures of 2018 Quds Day rallies in US cities, from the Muslim Congress Facebook page)

Quds Day, New York, 2018

In Canada, the Al-Quds Day rallies are organized in several cities, notably in Toronto, gathering thousands of participants.

Quds Day in Toronto, Canad, 2018