Youth organisations and student unions from 30 countries gathered in the Turkish city of Istanbul on 8 July for a conference devoted to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. The two-day event, which tackles recent developments in the Palestinian territories, is organised by Turkey-based Anadolu Youth Association and the International Coalition of Youth and Student Unions to Support Palestine.
“We are organising this conference for the second year in a row with Palestine, Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and Al-Aqsa Mosque topping its agenda,” Salih Turan, head of Anadolu Youth Association, said in his opening speech. He said the conference aims to show solidarity with the Palestinian people in their defence of Al-Aqsa mosque and their lands.
Aamiena Breda, a student from the female wing of South Africa’s Youth for Al-Quds, said she attended the conference because “Palestine holds an important place in our hearts as Muslims.” “We came here to Istanbul with a view to learning more about the Palestinian issue and gaining a better perspective about it,” she told media.