Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout slogans against the US and Israel at a protest in Srinagar on December 8, 2017. Photo: AFP
Source:
https://scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2123570/muslims-asia-protest-against-trumps-jerusalem-plan Southeast Asia
Muslims in Asia protest against Trump’s Jerusalem plan
Muslim men burn portraits of US President Donald Trump during a rally against his decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Photo: AP
Thousands of protesters in Muslim-majority countries in Asia rallied on Friday to condemn the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, as authorities tightened security outside American embassies.
Leaders in Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan have joined a global chorus of condemnation of President Donald Trump’s decision.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Afghanistan’s capital with placards, effigies of Trump and at least one burning US flag.
“Death to America! Death to Trump and Israel!” the crowds chanted.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, a staunch US ally, has not commented on Trump’s decision.
In Indonesia, a few hundred demonstrators mostly clad in white rallied outside the US embassy in Jakarta, capital of the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country.
Muslim men burn a tyre outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta. Photo: AP
Some wore chequered scarves and waved Palestinian flags.
“We’re standing here in the name of justice and humanity. We’ve gathered to defend our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” said one rally leader in Jakarta.
Trump said on Wednesday the US would move its embassy to Jerusalem in the coming years.
Protests have erupted in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as the Islamist group Hamas urged Palestinians to launch a fresh uprising against Israel.
Malaysian Muslims hold placards during a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP
In Malaysia, protesters gathered in front of the American embassy in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
“Mr President, this is an illegal announcement. Jerusalem is an occupied territory,” Minister for Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin said through a loudspeaker towards the embassy.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Thursday called on Muslims worldwide to strongly oppose any recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Kashmiri Shiite Muslims with an effigy of Trump. Photo: EPA
About 3,000 people in Bangladesh gathered in front of the main mosque in the capital, Dhaka, to protest.
In Pakistan’s major cities, hundreds of Islamists hardliners rallied in small groups.
“Down with America, down with Israel and no to Israel occupation,” chanted protesters in the cities of Lahore and Peshawar.
Controversial Pakistani cleric Hafiz Saeed promised bigger protests over Jerusalem and urged the government to convene a conference of Muslim-majority states.
“Pakistan should take the lead, being the only nuclear state of the Islamic world,” said Saeed, who was released from house arrest last month by a Pakistani court.
The United States and India blame Saeed as the mastermind of the attacks that killed 166 people in India’s financial capital, Mumbai.
Kashmiri Shiite Muslims burning the Trump effigy. Photo: EPA
In Kashmir, small groups of people protested in Srinagar, the capital of the Indian portion of the divided Muslim-majority region that is claimed by both India and Pakistan.
“We condemn the idiot Trump’s decision,” said a placard on an effigy of the US president.