Thousands of people took to the streets in the Turkish city of Sanliurfa on Sunday to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The mass rally was reportedly staged by Sanliurfa municipality and Turkey’s Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) along with local NGOs.
Addressing the masses Sanliurfa mayor said: “The cause of Jerusalem should remain forever alive in our conscience for its is a red line that can never be crossed.”
“Jerusalem is grappling with the oppression perpetrated by the Israeli occupation and struggling for independence” he added.
For his part IHH’s head urged the world’s Muslim communities to join forces and stand firm in the face of underway attempts to partition Muslims’ lands and disperse native communities.
On Wednesday December 6 the U.S. president announced his decision — despite widespread opposition across the Middle East and the world — to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The announcement sparked strong condemnation from around the world.
During his election campaign last year Trump repeatedly promised to relocate the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem home to Muslims’ third holiest site—al-Aqsa Mosque.
