Friends of Al-Aqsa group launch #LoveAqsa initiative

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Friends of Al-Aqsa
14 Feb 11:45

During this year's Al-Aqsa week, the Friends of Al-Aqsa group launched the #LoveAqsa initiative to celebrate love for the Al-Aqsa Mosque and express solidarity with Palestine.

Friends of Al-Aqsa group launch #LoveAqsa initiative. (FOA)

In an official statement, the Friends of Al-Aqsa NGO announced that its Love Aqsa initiative, which seeks to spread awareness and love for Islam's third holiest site, will run from February 13th to 19th this year, always coinciding with Al Isra Wal Miraj, an Islamic holiday.

The statement reveals that individuals and mosques all over the world are organizing activities to celebrate Al-Aqsa and raise awareness of the plight of Palestinians living under Israeli apartheid.

This comes at a critical juncture, as the new far-right Israeli occupation government has murdered 42 Palestinians in the first 40 days of 2023, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for more illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine yesterday.

Since Valentine’s Day falls on the Tuesday of Aqsa Week, Friends of Al-Aqsa's activities around loving Masjid Al-Aqsa in London and Glasgow, have a Valentine's Day theme, including heart-shaped decorations with the beautiful virtues of Al-Aqsa and Palestine.

According to the organization's statement, there will also be oversized 'Love Aqsa' cards that people can sign to express their devotion to the holy site. Hundreds of mosques and university students across the UK will distribute leaflets and stickers about Masjid Al-Aqsa on Friday.

Aqsa Week Kids

On another note, Aqsa Week Kids, which will take place during the February half-term holiday, is also returning. Since the official launch of Aqsa Week Kids in 2020, over 4000 children have participated in the United Kingdom.

Aqsa Week was founded in 2017 by the UK-based FOA (Friends of Al-Aqsa) to highlight the significance of Masjid Al-Aqsa and the injustices endured by Palestinians as a result of "Israel's" illegal occupation and apartheid regime.

Aqsa Week received support from government departments and prominent institutions worldwide in 2021, and it was celebrated in more than 50 countries in 2022. Aqsa Week 2023 will be observed across five continents.