The government of the United Kingdom has said yes to a request from the Metropolitan Police to stop a march that was going to happen in London on Sunday.
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood said they made this decision to prevent problems with the public during the Al Quds Day march. Many people view this event as supporting Iran, although the organisers say it mainly supports Palestinians.
Shabana Mahmood said that although authorities will not allow the march. People can still hold a stationary protest if they follow strict rules. Know More
Shabana Mahmood said: “I have said yes to the Metropolitan Polices request to stop the Al Quds march. I think this is necessary to prevent problems with the public because of how big the protest is. And how many other groups might also protest, especially with what is happening in the Middle East right now.”
She also said that if people do hold a protest in one place the police will have strict rules. And anyone who spreads hate or tries to divide people will have to face the law. The Metropolitan Police said they did not make this decision easily. They pointed out that it is very hard to ban a protest.
Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, the Metropolitan Police’s public order lead, said the ban also covers the Al Quds march and any counter-protest marches planned at the same time. The ban will start at 16:00 on Wednesday. Will last for one month. Read More
Ade Adelekan said the Al Quds march has been a problem for a time. The event started in Iran, and the Islamic Human Rights Commission organises it in London. He said the group supports the Iranian government.
He also said that the police have not used their power to ban a march since 2012. Over the years the police have dealt with hundreds of protests from all sides, including big protests to support the Palestinians and others that support or oppose the government of Iran.
However he said this particular event has some problems. The police are worried about the number of people who might come to protest and the rising tensions because of what is happening in the Middle East.
Ade Adelekan said that in the past people have been arrested at the Al Quds march for supporting groups and for hate crimes against Jewish people. He said that the decision to ban the march this year was only because of concerns about security not because of the political views of the people involved.
The Metropolitan Police and the government of the United Kingdom do not want to stop people from expressing their opinions or holding protests. They do want to prevent violence and serious problems. The Islamic Human Rights Commission, which organises the Al Quds march says this event is a protest to support the Palestinians. And other people who are treated unfairly around the world.
Faisal Bodi from `the Islamic Human Rights Commission said before officials announced the ban. That stopping the march would be a sad day for people’s freedom to express themselves and hold protests. He said the protest has happened peacefully for the 40 years.
However Lord Walney, who used to advise the government on violence. And disruption said on the radio that he thought banning the march was the decision. People have called for a ban on the Al Quds Day march for years. But the demands grew louder after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023.
