Mehran Movahedfar is Iran's consul general in the Pakistani city of Lahore. Recently, he wrote an article in the leading Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jang, discussing the issue of Palestine and marking Al-Quds Day.
Al-Quds Day was started by Ruhollah Khomeini, who, following the 1979 revolution served as Iran's first supreme leader from 1979 to 1989. A series of anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, pro-Palestinian, anti-India, and anti-America events and conferences are organized in the Islamic world, especially by Shi'ite Muslims, to mark the day on the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan.[1]
Movahedfar's article, marking Al-Quds Day, was titled "Palestine Is The First Problem Of The Islamic World."
A screenshot of the article written by Mehran Movahedfar.
Following are excerpts from the article, as translated from Urdu:[2]
"International Al-Quds Day Is A Global Protest Against Systematic Violations Of The Natural And Fundamental Rights Of The Palestinian People"
"For more than seven decades, the crisis of Palestine has been the most complex problem of the Arab region and an international issue. The Zionist regime's merciless, expansionist, and inhumane policies and actions are causing the plight of the oppressed Palestinian people, depriving them of their non-negotiable rights. The situation of these people is getting worse day by day.
"These policies and actions are in violation of the principles, goals, and provisions of the UN Charter and provisions of international law, particularly international humanitarian law and human rights. Every day, the Zionist regime commits open, persistent, and systematic violations of human rights, including the rights of children.
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"Normalizing relations with this child-killing regime will not only prevent peace in Palestine but will encourage more oppression and occupation by this regime. Bait Al-Maqdis [Jerusalem] is the land of Palestinians and the first Qibla [the direction toward which a Muslim turns to pray] of Muslims. No one can buy it or take possession of it.
"The Palestinian people have resisted for the defense of their fundamental rights, especially the right to self-determination, and for the legitimate defense against the illegal (illegitimate) usurpation and occupation of their land. Now the problem of Palestine is not only the problem of the Palestinians, but it is the first problem of the Islamic world.
"And International Quds Day is a global protest against systematic violations of the natural and fundamental rights of the Palestinian people in the world, [and against] terrorism, racial discrimination, and injustice. It has become an important symbol of the resistance movement."
"International Quds Day Is A Manifestation Of The Unity Of The Islamic Ummah And A Symbol Of Standing Up To A Law-Breaker, Occupier, And Nuclear Regime That Is Causing Deadly And Widespread Destruction In West Asia"
"The terrorist nature of the Israeli apartheid regime is evident in the daily massacres of civilians, Arab dignitaries, and Iranian scientists. The International Quds Day is a manifestation of the unity of the Islamic Ummah and a symbol of standing up to a lawbreaker, occupier, and nuclear regime that is causing deadly and widespread destruction in West Asia.
Iran's consul general in Lahore Mehran Movahedfar (left), image courtesy: Tehrantimes.com
"Respect for the 'Palestinian goals and resistance against the violence of the apartheid regime' is a criterion for evaluating the 'importance of justice' in the world. The Islamic Republic of Iran proudly supports the Palestinian people, and Quds Day is an expression of the continuation of a nation's effort to reclaim its motherland.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran insists on declaring the Palestine issue as the first and fundamental issue of the Islamic world and rejects the efforts of international Zionism to forget it. The Islamic Republic of Iran has presented a democratic and fair blueprint (procedure) for the resolution of the Palestinian crisis under the title of 'Conducting a Referendum in Palestine.' This blueprint (procedure) will be a suitable alternative to previous failed proposals."
Four-Point Blueprint Includes "Implementation Of The Right Of Palestinian Refugees To Return To Their Original And Historical Land"
"The implementation of the right to self-determination is the basis of this framework. The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the only possible solution is to hold a national referendum with the participation of all genuine Palestinians, including Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
"The implementation of this blueprint (procedure) involves four basic stages:
"1. Implementation of the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their original and historical land.
"2. Hold a national referendum among the original inhabitants of the Palestinian land, including followers of all religions who lived in Palestine before the Balfour Declaration, so that the right to self-determination and the type of political system can be decided.
"3. Formation of a (proposed) political system according to the will of the majority of the Palestinian people.
"4. Decision regarding the status of non-resident inhabitants of Palestine through a political system elected by the majority."
[1] MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1691, As Al-Quds Day Events Held Across South Asia, Iranian Consulate's Exhibition In Herat City Of Afghanistan Advocates 'Nuclear Extinction' Of Israel, April 25, 2023.
[2] Jang.com.pk/news/1216946, April 19, 2023.
