Banning of Quds Day rally in Berlin ruled out

By: Nabil Raza

BERLIN, Germany: Germany ruled out banning the forthcoming “The Quds Day” rally in Berlin following intense political pressure by the country's Jewish community and other pro-Zionist lobbying groups.

Talking to the daily Der Tag Esspiegel on Saturday, the interior minister of the state of Berlin Erhart Koerting said: “I don't see a possibility for a ban.”

Pro-Israel supporters have for years lobbied to prohibit the annual Quds day rally in Berlin citing alleged anti-semitic hate paroles.

Several thousand people demonstrate peacefully each year at the annual world Quds rallies across Germany. Unlike other parts of the world where Quds day is observed on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, Quds rallies in Germany traditionally take place on Saturday.

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