Muslims in Asia protest Jerusalem plan

Thousands of angry protesters have taken to the streets in Asia over US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Thousands of protesters in Muslim-majority countries in Asia have rallied to condemn the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, as authorities tightened security outside US embassies.

Leaders in Indonesia and Malaysia have joined a global chorus of condemnation of President Donald Trump's decision.

Protesters, some shouting anti-US slogans and burning an effigy of Trump, gathered in front of the American embassy in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

In Indonesia, a few hundred demonstrators rallied outside the US embassy in Jakarta, capital of the world's biggest Muslim-majority country.

"We're standing here in the name of justice and humanity. We've gathered to defend our Palestinian brothers and sisters," one rally leader said in Jakarta.

The US embassy in Jakarta advised its citizens to avoid demonstrations and said its consulate in Indonesia's second-biggest city of Surabaya had suspended public services on Friday.

In Bangladesh, about 3000 people gathered in front of the main mosque in the capital, Dhaka, to protest.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, small groups of people protested in Srinagar, the capital of the Muslim-majority region.

"We condemn the idiot Trump's decision," said a placard on an effigy of the US president.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Thursday called on Muslims worldwide to strongly oppose any recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Trump said on Wednesday the United States would move its embassy to Jerusalem in the coming years.


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Source: AAP


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