Quds Day, short for International Al-Quds Day, is observed on the last Friday of Ramadan. It is an annual international event marked by rallies, marches, speeches, and demonstrations across parts of the Muslim world and in diaspora communities. Participants express support for the Palestinian people.
Events often feature symbols of opposition to Israel, Zionism, and what participants describe as Israeli occupation of Jerusalem and Palestinian territories.
Quds Day was established by Iran’s first Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, soon after the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought the current theocratic state to power.
Khomeini declared the last Friday of Ramadan as a day for Muslims worldwide to demonstrate unity and solidarity with Palestinians. He framed the occasion as opposition to Israel, which he described as an illegitimate occupier of Jerusalem. First observed in 1979, the day has since been marked annually.
The largest events are typically held in Iranian cities such as Tehran, where state-organised rallies draw large crowds.
