Protests continue against US Jerusalem move in Turkey

By Kubra Chohan

ANKARA (AA) - Thousands of Turkish citizens continued to take to the streets on Saturday against the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The demonstrations came ahead of a huge demonstration scheduled to take place in Istanbul’s Yenikapi Square on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. local time (1200GMT).

On Friday and Saturday, people across Turkey gathered outside the central mosques and chanted anti-Israel and pro-Palestine slogans.

In the country's most populous city of Istanbul, a platform, established to support the Jerusalem cause, protested outside Sultanahmet mosque after morning prayers.

Holding Palestinian flags and chanting “Turkey Stands for Palestine”, a large number of people marched from Narmanli Mosque towards Havuzbasi City Square in eastern Erzurum province.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U.S.’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital and said the U.S. Embassy would relocate from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s Jerusalem policy triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and other Muslim countries.

In Black Sea provinces of Zonguldak, Kastamonu, and Bartin, various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) held demonstrations.

Members of 61 NGOs gathered in Sakarya, a northwestern province, holding placards bearing: “Our hearts beat for Jerusalem today”, “Jerusalem belongs to Islam” and “Only way is Islamic Union”.

Citizens of eastern Van burned an Israeli flag in protest. The group later prayed for Jerusalem and recited poems.

The southern provinces of Adana, Karaman, and Osmaniye also saw similar demonstrations.

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.