Syra Yousuf, Sharmila Faruqui weave messages of solidarity with Palestine in their mehendi designs

Eidul Fitr for Palestinians brings little joy as Israel’s apartheid regime continues its militarised assault

In an expressive display of solidarity with Palestine, Pakistani actor Syra Yousuf has taken to social media to showcase her unique mehendi design, sending a powerful message of support. On her Instagram Story, Yousuf revealed a minimalistic design adorning her hands, featuring delicate vines wrapping around her fingers and the word "Falasteen" - the Arabic name for Palestine - elegantly inscribed in cursive on her palm.

Adding a deeper layer of meaning to her artistic statement, the actor chose to overlay the image with a poignant reminder, an English translation of a verse from the Quran: “And do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah, for no one loses hope in Allah's mercy except those with no faith. - Quran (12:87)”. This verse, symbolising hope and steadfast faith, complements the theme of her mehendi design, reinforcing the message of resilience and solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Sharmila Faruqui, a notable figure in Pakistani politics, also used the occasion of Eidul Fitr to voice her support for Palestine, but in a slightly different manner. Through her own Instagram Story, Faruqui shared a glimpse of her palm which bore the Palestinian flag. Dressed in a simple yet elegant brown dress and sporting a bare face, Faruqui did not shy away from registering her protest. Atop the flag, the words “Free Palestine” were inscribed, making a clear and bold statement of her stance on the issue.

Eidul Fitr across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank brings little joy as Israel’s apartheid regime continues its militarised assault. While Muslims all over the world mark the end of Ramazan with festivities and feasts, the deadly wave of violence has killed over 33,000 Palestinians, Al Jazeera reported.

According to Ahmed Ismail, a shopkeeper in Rafah in southern Gaza, Israel’s unrelenting attacks have also targetted people’s “appetite for celebrating the holy occasion.” He furthered on, “Even children have no interest in toys as they did in the past. This is the worst season we have ever lived.”

Jabr Hassan, a displaced man in Rafah, said, “We are suffering on all fronts. People can hardly survive. They can hardly feed their families. We no longer think of Eid or celebrations or any other form of joy.”

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