SIO Kerala organises pro-Palestine protest; over 700 join

The Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of Kerala’s Kannur district held a mass rally and solidarity gathering on Sunday, August 31, in support of Palestine as part of its month-long campaign, Tahya Filasteen (“Long Live Palestine”).

According to organisers, over 700 people took part in the rally, which started near the New Stand. The event featured symbolic demonstrations, including portrayals of martyrs’ bodies, Palestinian resistance symbols, and an installation depicting a journalist under attack.

Palestinian flags, posters, and symbolic items such as the kufiya, watermelon, olives, and keys were displayed throughout the rally.

SIO Kerala secretary Shibin Rahman said the world was witnessing the “live telecast of injustices,” alleging that people were being deceived with promises of humanitarian aid and then shot, Siasat Daily reported.

Palestinian poet and writer Dr. Alaa Qatarawi, who lost four children in the ongoing conflict, also addressed the gathering. He described the situation in Gaza as “genocide,” stating that homes, mosques, and shops had been destroyed, leaving residents with nowhere to go. He also expressed disappointment over the continued silence of Arab nations even two years after Toofaanul Aqsa.