Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has lashed out at Israel in a deluge of rhetoric against the Jewish state ahead of the Iranian-initiated ‘Al Quds day,’ which protests Israel’s existence.

“There is no doubt that we will witness the demise of the Zionist entity [Israel],” read a post on his Twitter account Thursday.

Speaking at a meeting of academic and scientists in Tehran on Wednesday, the hardline Iranian leader stated that defending the Palestinians was tantamount to “defending the truth.”

“Today, fighting against the Zionist regime [of Israel] is fighting the hegemonic, arrogant system,” Khamenei said

Iran and anti-Israeli proponents around the world will mark Al Quds day on Friday. The event is held every year on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has urged the global Muslim community to take part in the various international anti-Israel rallies on Friday.

In a communique on the matter, the regime in Tehran accused Israel of “tyranny, oppression and persecution” and blamed Israel for being “the main cause” behind the current crises in the Middle East.

Iran also charged Israel as being an “anti-human, child-killing and criminal Zionist regime, which, during the nearly 70 years of its disgraceful life has committed a large number of crimes against humanity.”

Iran’s own human rights record has been scrutinized by rights groups for issues including its treatment of women, homosexuals and minorities along with its policies on corporal punishment, political freedom and free speech.

In past years, Iranian demonstrators gas chanted “Death to Israel” and “Death to America” and torched flags of both nations as they commemorated Al Quds day.

On Sunday, several hundred people in London took part in the controversial Al Quds Day march held annually in the British capital.

A smaller counter-protest was held by Israeli supporters, mostly members of the local Jewish and Israeli community.

Pro-Israel advocates had called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to cancel the rally due to concerns that the march allows for displays of support for antisemitism and terrorism. More than 15,000 people signed a petition to ban the march, however is was held as scheduled and police managed to keep the sides separated to prevent clashes.

Source » jp