The protests against U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital continued across Turkey as thousands gathered for rallies organized by Turkish NGOs.
The pro-Jerusalem rallies were organized by the Memur-Sen and Hak-Iş trade unions, Turkey's IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, the Anatolian Youth Association, and the Cihannüma and ÖNDER foundations in Ankara, Kocaeli, Diyarbakır, Hatay and several other cities.
"We will not be silenced until Jerusalem is liberated from Zionist occupation," Memur-Sen Chairman Ali Yalçın said, during his opening speech of the protest at Ankara's Anadolu Square.
"Whatever Masjid al-Haram and Masjid Nabawi mean to us, Masjid al-Aqsa is the same," said Hak-Iş Chairman Mahmut Arslan.
IHH Chairman Bülent Yıldırım, Anatolian Youth Foundation President Salih Turhan, Cihannüma foundation Deputy Chairman Ahmet Akça and ÖNDER Foundation Chairman Halit Bekiroğlu also addressed the rally.
The uncle of Fawzi al-Juneidi, a Palestinian boy detained by the Israeli authorities last week, also attended the rally on an invitation by the organizers.
Juneidi, 16, has become a symbol of ongoing Palestinian protests against Trump's decision on Dec. 6.
Grand National Assembly of Turkey Administrator Ahmet Gündoğdu, Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Veli Ağbaba and other deputies also attended the rally.
The rally started with the national anthem, followed by a performance and recitation of the Quran.
PALESTINE'S ENVOY ATTENDS PROTEST ON JERUSALEM
Palestine's Ambassador to Turkey on Sunday attended a rally to protest U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
Addressing the rally in Turkey's northwestern Kocaeli province, he said: "There will be no peace in Jerusalem without the Palestinian state and there will be no Palestinian state possible without Jerusalem as its capital."
He added recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital challenged UN resolutions.
He thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish people for their support to Palestine.
Fatih Erbakan, chairman of Turkey-based Erbakan Foundation, said: "The unity of Islam and Muslims needs to be established in order to actually free Jerusalem."
Erbakan said that if the D-8 organization, which his father and former Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan had launched, would have been protected the U.S. and Jerusalem would have known their place.
The D-8 organization was launched on June 15, 1997, when Erbakan proposed the creation of an economic group including Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.
Erbakan was Turkey's prime minister from June 1996 until Feb. 28, 1997, when the military effectively deposed him under a "post-modern coup" after less than a year in office, leading to the collapse of his coalition government.
French pianist and composer Stephane Blet said he has held concerts in support of Palestine for the past 25 years.
Calling Zionism a cancer, he said: "Such a cancer needs strong chemotherapy. To win against Zionism we have to be united and organize the harshest boycott against America and Israel."
Trump's decision on Dec. 6 triggered demonstrations around the world including in the occupied Palestinian territories, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and other Muslim countries.
Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
