The town of Holon is home to a large Jewish community of Persian origin. Participants mixed Israeli flags and pre-1979 Iranian flags, while messages in Hebrew and Persian called for relaying the voice of the Iranian people. Slogans popularized by the movement in Iran were taken up, including references to the former monarchical regime. The rally took place peacefully, under the sign of solidarity. There are an estimated 200,000 to 350,000 Jews of Persian origin living in Israel today.

 

In Lagos State, Nigeria, the government has demolished parts of the Makoko neighborhood. This stilt slum is home to one of Lagos' oldest fishing communities.

For residents, this unilateral decision does not pass. They express their outrage as this action leaves thousands of people homeless.

"The government came to demolish my house; we were not informed of their arrival, and since this incident we have nowhere to go. It rained a few days ago and the rain fell on us and our belongings. We stayed here with what was left of our possessions, because we have nowhere to go, regrets Kpetosi Basirat, a resident of Makoko.

"After the demolition, my wife, who had just given birth to twins, was hospitalized. She just came home. This is where my family and I currently sleep, but this place is neither safe nor suitable. Many of our possessions were destroyed, and all these trials made me mentally unstable. Without God's help, I would have lost one of my twins to the tear gas that was thrown. It is God who saved us, says Victor Ahansu, another resident.

Bulldozers invaded parts of the neighborhood, demolishing wooden houses and shops built along the lagoon. Authorities say the decision was taken for security and planning reasons. They also mention environmental risks.

Residents, many of whom depend on fishing and small businesses, are worried about the future. They say they have not received any support or rehousing proposals from the state.

"What scares me most about everything that’s happening is that we don’t know where to sleep; we have nowhere to go. When it starts to rain, where will we go? Where are we going to go?", wonders Usa Andrew, displaced from Makoko.

While Lagos State is the smallest of Nigeria's states, it is also the most populous and economically important. It is home to the commercial capital also called Lagos, which is facing increasing pressure due to the rapid growth of its population. Municipal authorities face difficulties in managing housing problems, traffic and environmental risks in disadvantaged neighborhoods like Makoko.