The annual pro-Palestinian al-Quds Day march in London, scheduled to take place on Sunday, has been banned by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood following warnings from the Metropolitan Police about the risk of “serious public disorder.”
The demonstration, held for more than 40 years in support of Palestinian rights and opposition to Israel, has attracted controversy in recent years. Some participants in past marches have waved the flag of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group banned in the UK, and chants against Israel and the U.S. have been reported.
Announcing the decision, Mahmood said the ban was “necessary to prevent serious public disorder, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East”.
She added that if a stationary protest were to go ahead, police would impose strict conditions and take action against anyone spreading hatred or division rather than exercising their right to protest peacefully.
The march is organised by the UK al-Quds Committee, with the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) playing a central role.
The group has insisted the demonstration is peaceful and condemned the ban as “a politically charged decision” and “an attack on freedom of expression”.
The IHRC said it is seeking legal advice and confirmed that a static protest could still legally take place on Sunday.
The Metropolitan Police said the decision followed a risk assessment of both the planned protest and potential counter-protests.
A spokesperson said: “The threshold to ban a protest is high and we do not take this decision lightly. The uniquely complex international situation and severe risks meant merely placing conditions on the protest would not have been sufficient to prevent serious public disorder.”
Calls to ban the march intensified after comments from Courts Minister Sarah Sackman, who said supporters of Iran’s regime and its proxies “have no place in our society” and should not be “calling for hate and hostility against this country.”
Previous al-Quds Day marches have been largely peaceful, though there have been isolated incidents.
In 2017, Darren Osborne, later convicted of terrorism, attempted to target attendees but was prevented by police safety cordons. He subsequently attacked worshippers outside Finsbury Park Mosque, killing one person and injuring 12 others.
The ban marks the first time a protest march has been prohibited in London since 2012.
While the IHRC and its supporters have criticised the move as an infringement of civil liberties, the Home Office and police maintain it is a necessary measure to protect public safety during a tense and highly charged political climate.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million peop...
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S...
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships ...
The U.S. plans to seek the redirection of Iranian assets to Gulf states to help fund reconstruction and repairs for damage attributed to Iran, a sourc...
At least a dozen people were wounded, two critically, on Saturday (6 June) in Toledo, Ohio, as two shooters traded gunfire, police said....
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S. visa approvals continues to cast a shadow over the country's tournament preparations.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned ahead of World Environment Day that Afghanistan's worsening water crisis is disproportionately affecting women and girls, who bear much of the responsibility for securing water for their families.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al‑Zaidi will pay an official visit to the United States, bringing with him a delegation of business leaders, private‑sector representatives and banking officials, in an effort to boost investment and deepen economic ties with Washington.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S. visa approvals continues to cast a shadow over the country's tournament preparations.
At least a dozen people were wounded, two critically, on Saturday (6 June) in Toledo, Ohio, as two shooters traded gunfire, police said.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 7 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al‑Zaidi will pay an official visit to the United States, bringing with him a delegation of business leaders, private‑sector representatives and banking officials, in an effort to boost investment and deepen economic ties with Washington.
People across Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions struggling to access food, clean water, shelter and medical care as the conflict continues.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment