(New York, NY)—On Sunday, Al-Quds Day will take place in locations around the western world. It was created by Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, shortly after the Iranian Revolution of 1979. He conceived it as a day in furtherance of the violent and radical goals of the Islamic Revolution, including the destruction of Israel.

Decades later, it remains one of the most visible expressions of the Iranian regime. Since the 1980s, and due to the UK’s permissive protest laws and the presence of pro-regime networks in the city, London has consistently staged one of the biggest Al-Quds marches in the West. Despite limiting the march to a stationary demonstration, it will take place once again in London Sunday.

CEP CEO Ambassador D. Wallace stated:

“Since its first inception in Iran in 1979, the key message of the “Al-Quds” march, on every single occasion, has been to call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state. That is dangerous extremism which leeches into domestic discourse and helps create the climate that endows individuals with the belief that they can assault, bomb and murder Jews all over the world. In the first two weeks of this month, there has been a violent act of antisemitism virtually every day including in the U.S., Canada, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway.

“The contradiction at the heart of these demonstrations is staggering. Participants claim to stand for “justice” and “liberation” while expressing open support for the Iranian regime and its Supreme Leader. This is the same regime responsible for killing upwards of 36,000 Iranians earlier this year in January—the single most sustained episode of slaughter in the entire blood-soaked existence of the Islamic Republic.

“To stand in London, a true cradle of liberal democracy and once a beacon of tolerance, and chant slogans in support of the Tehran regime while it brutalizes its own people year on year is not solidarity with the oppressed.

“The decision by Britain’s Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to ban the marching element of the demonstration acknowledges that there are serious concerns. But allowing the event to proceed in a stationary form does little to address the core issue.

“Now is the moment to stand with Jewish people who are threatened daily with acts of antisemitic violence and hate, and with the Iranian people who have bravely risked their lives to fight oppression. It is not the moment to stand with the regime that is at the heart of antisemitism and domestic brutality. We call for all Al-Quds demonstrations—stationary or otherwise—to be permanently and entirely banned.”