The 130-member convoy includes people of all faiths and religions, men and women, from India, Pakistan, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Bahrain and Azerbaijan. The convoy is carrying aids from India, Iran and Syria etc. The convoy plans to enter Gaza through the Rafah Border with Egypt on December 27, the second anniversary of the war on Gaza by Israel after the completion of the six-month truce in 2008. It is expected to sail to the Al Arish Port in Egypt from the Latakiya Port in Syria. The Asian convoy left New Delhi on December 2 and passed through Pakistan and Iran before arriving in Turkey. Feroze Mithiborwala of the Awami Bharat delivered the vote of thanks at the function. The convoy had a dinner at the Iranian Parliament where Ali Akbar Abu Turabi, vice-president of the Parliament, received them. “The people shouted ‘Kullu yaum ashura, kullu arzin karbala, haihata mina zzilla’ meaning ‘Everyday is ashura, every land is Karbala, no more subjugation to oppression’. “The Iranians connected the fight of Imam Hussien, grandson of Prophet Muhammed, against the oppressive rulers and his subsequent martyrdom with the suffering and resistance of the people of Palestine,” said Bishruddeeen Sharqi to. Earlier the convoy had received hearty welcome in Iran, where people were on the zenith of enthusiasm as the caravan entered the country in the eve of the Muharram. The caravan arrived in Turkey on Friday and covered the Kurdish area of Vann, receiving the support and cooperation of the Turkish government and other non-government organizations. The Turkish Prime Minister Racep Tayyip Erdogan is also reported to send his representatives along with the convoy. Meanwhile, the Iranian Parliament has reportedly decided to send seven of its members along with the Asian convoy to Gaza. They, along with the Assistant Mufti of Syria Mr Alauddin Zuaitiri, also met some Palestinian support groups in the city. The two visited the Palestinian camp of Yarmouk on Friday. They are to arrange visas and reception of the convoy in Syria, Egypt and Palestine as well as coordinating the participants from Lebanon, Jordan and Kuwait who are joining the convoy afresh. Mr Sharqi and Salim Gafuri of Iran’s Ummah al Wahida left the caravan from Tabriz, Iran, for Damascus for some preparatory works ahead of the convoy entering Syria. They appreciated the support and cooperation extended to the suffering people of Palestine by the Syrian people and government. The press meet held in Yarmouk, a Palestinian camp in Damascus, was attended by Khalid Abd al-Majid (Secretary General of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front), Ahmed Abdul Karim, Sheikh Alaa Zaatari (representative of the Grand Mufti) and Sheikh Yusuf al-Abbas (representative of the Caravan in Syria). “The idea of the Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan came up last year when it was known that a lot of Asians were unaware of the Palestinian cause and the siege of Gaza,” said Bishruddeen Sharqi, state committee member of India’s Solidarity Youth Movement, while addressing the media prior to the arrival of the caravan in Damascus.
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