Thousands of Muslims in Asia protest against Trump's Jerusalem plan

KUALA LUMPUR/ JAKARTA: Thousands of protesters in Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia joined rallies on Friday to condemn Washington's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, as authorities tightened security outside US embassies. Leaders in both Asian countries have joined a global chorus of voices condemning US President Donald Trump's move.

Indonesia:

In Indonesia, hundreds of protesters mostly clad in white were arriving outside the US embassy in Jakarta, capital of the world's biggest Muslim-majority country. Some wore checkered scarves and waved Palestinian flags, while others shouted "Allahu Akbar".



"We have prepared personnel and patrols to secure the US embassy. We are expecting between 500 and 1,000 demonstrators," said Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono. The US embassy in Jakarta advised its citizens to avoid areas where there were demonstrations and said its consulate in Indonesia's second-biggest city Surabaya had suspended public services on Friday.

Indonesia has been a long-running supporter of the two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and there have been public demonstrations in support of Palestine in recent years. Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Thursday urged the United States to reconsider its decision and instructed his foreign minister to summon the US ambassador for an explanation.

Malaysia:

Thousands of protesters in Malaysia demonstrated Friday outside the US embassy over President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, denouncing it as a "slap in the face" for Muslims worldwide.

Some 5,000 demonstrators marched on the Kuala Lumpur mission after the main weekly Muslim prayers in a nearby mosque, chanting and waving banners that read "Hands off Jerusalem" and "Down USA President Trump".

The protesters in Kuala Lumpur were led by Khairy Jamaluddin, the sports minister and head of ruling party UMNO's youth wing, who accused of Trump of having made "an illegal announcement".

"What you did is against international law -- Muslims cannot accept your action," he said in a speech to the crowd during the hour-long protest.

Mohamad Rasul, a 51-year-old train driver taking part in the demonstration, described Trump's move as "a slap in the face for Muslims.

"This insensitive action will inflame the hearts of Muslims worldwide."

Police said 5,000 demonstrators took part. The protest was peaceful bar some pushing between protesters and security officials.

Iran:

Hundreds of Iranians took part in rallies across the country on Friday to condemn US President Donald Trump’s decision this week to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, state TV reported. State TV aired footage of marchers chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel", holding up Palestinian flags and banners saying: "Quds belongs to Muslims", using the Arabic name for the city.

Opposition to Trump's move has united Iran's hardline and pragmatist factions, with both pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani and commanders of the hardline Revolutionary Guards urging Iranians to join nationwide "Day of Rage" rallies. Some protesters burned pictures of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while chanting “Death to the Devil".

Rouhani rejected Trump’s decision as “wrong, illegitimate, provocative and very dangerous". Senior cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami told worshippers at Friday prayers at Tehran University that Muslims around the world should unite against Israel, state TV reported.

"We will not leave Palestinians alone," worshippers chanted at Friday prayers in Tehran, TV reported. Iran's army chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri said Trump's decision on Jerusalem was "unwise" and could fuel tension in the crisis-hit Middle East, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.



Jamaat-e-Islami has announced rallies in all major cities of Pakistan after Friday prayers. President Trump said on Wednesday that the United States would move its embassy to Jerusalem in the coming years.

Protests have already broken out in the West Bank and the Gaza strip as Hamas urged Palestinians to launch a fresh uprising against Israel. The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest barriers to a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Its eastern sector was captured by Israel in a 1967 war and annexed in a move not recognised internationally. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem for the capital of an independent state they seek.