Istanbul: Huge concentration in favour of the Palestinians – “As we liberated Saint Sofia we will do with Al Aksha”

On its streets thousands of Turks came out on New Year’s Day morning to protest in favor of the massive gathering for the Palestinians in Istanbul organized more than 400 Islamist-oriented organizations. ADVERSE Central slogan of the rally was “Yesterday Saint Sophia, today the mosque of the Umeyaids and tomorrow Al Aksa”. Protesters holding flags of Palestine and Turkey after morning prayer headed for the Galata Bridge. In the middle of the Galata bridge there was a banner with the slogan “stop genocide in Gaza”, written in Turkish and English. CORVERSE Among the people who organized the gathering was the son of President Recep Tayyip Endogan, Bilal. Footage shows Hundreds of thousands of people Marching in solidarity with Palestine in Istanbul, Türkiye, holding Turkish and Palestinian flags — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya REUTERS/Murad Sezer “West masks fell into Gaza. Where are human rights? Where are the children’s rights? Where are women’s rights? Where is the freedom of the press and expression? All Western values died in Gaza. As we have freed Saint Sophia from her chains, we will do the same tomorrow with the mosque of Al Aksha,” said the son of the president of Turkey. REUTERS/Murad Sezer REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya Erdogan’s son also referred to the conversion of Saint Sophia into a mosque, saying “as we released from her chains Saint Sophia, we will do the same tomorrow with the mosque of Al Aksha.” Bilal Erdoğan’dan tarihe geçecek konuşma: Kimseden merhamet dilenecek değiliz. Kendi tarimizden, imanımızdan aldığımız güçle biliyoruz ki; Allah’ın mazlumlara vaadi Suriye’de nasıl gerçekleştiyse Filistin’de de geerçekleşecektir. Ayasofya nasıl zincirrerinden kurtulduysa,… (@Devlet_024) REUTERS/Murad Sezer During the meeting the slogan ‘Maj is Allah’ (allakubar), Palestinian flags were raised. The rally was organized under the guidance of the Turkey Youth Foundation (TUGVA), which is close to the ruling AKP.