Hundreds gather in front of parliament for annual Al-Quds march

Hundreds of people marched on Parliament in Cape Town to observe the International Day of Solidarity with the Oppressed, also known as the Al-Quds march. It is held on the last Friday before the end of Ramadan.

The organisers say while there is solidarity with all people around the world living under siege or oppression, it is especially the plight of the Palestinian people that is top of mind.

A number of organisations joined in the protest action, including various political parties.

The public came out in numbers as the procession made its way to Parliament.

Al-Quds march in support of Palestine in Cape Town

Organisers’ spokesperson Dr. Wagheda Soeker-Cassiem says, “We call upon our government to cease international relations with Britain, France, and the United States of America. When we were under our state of apartheid, what did the world do for us? What did they do? Yes? They sanctioned. They had all kinds of support structures in place for us to be able to see our freedom, which we saw in 1994. We’re asking our government, take that step. Make that move so that the Palestinian people, too, can be free.”

Spokesperson for the Islamic Unity Convention, Yusuf Smith says, “Brothers and sisters, we have no problem having international relations, but we are not naive to think that we can dictate to people. We cannot dictate to the Palestinians what the solution should be. What we are offering them is our hand, and we are offering them our sincere hearts. And whatever you decide, whether it is around the negotiating table or whether it is through the bullet and the gun, we are with you whatever you decide, because you, as a people, you will have to decide and we will go along with you.”

Following the end of formal proceedings, a group of protesters set an Israeli flag alight.