MPs call for ban on London’s Al Quds Day march amid extremism concerns
Annual pro-Iran demo scheduled to take place in the capital on March 15
MPs and peers are calling for the annual Al Quds Day march, which has long seen displays of support for the Iranian regime, to be banned over extremism fears.
The demo is scheduled to take place on March 15 and is organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, which is under investigation by the Charity Commission over funding concerns.
It has previously seen attendees carrying Hezbollah flags, before the group was proscribed, and a video promoting this year’s demonstration showed protesters holding signs bearing the IHRC logo, which said the late Ayatollah Khamenei was on the “right side of history”.
In a statement on Sunday, the IHRC said Khamenei was a “rare role model”, and his “legacy will be etched into history as someone who resisted oppression and stood on the right side of history”.
The Al Quds demonstration, held in London each year during Ramadan, is part of an international day of demonstrations established in 1979 by Ruhollah Khomeini after the Iranian revolution.
At the centre of the messaging is hatred of Israel.
David Taylor, Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, said: “The police must stop this march from going ahead. We cannot allow hundreds of supporters of Iran’s hardline regime to march through London calling for strikes on Israel and death to the West.
“The march is organised by a charity with a history of support for the ayatollahs and Islamist terrorism. In the past, we have seen open support for terrorist organisations at these demonstrations. These are people who clearly hate Britain. Why should we be OK with them marching on our streets?”
Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham, said allowing the event to proceed carried a high risk of disorder. “It’s completely inappropriate for supporters of the Iranian regime to be allowed to march through London while British forces are under attack from Iran, and risks serious public disorder,” he said. “I would urge the authorities to ban this march.”
Lord Austin of Dudley, a former Labour MP, added: “It is outrageous that supporters of Iran’s terror regime are allowed to march on Britain’s streets calling for the destruction of Western democracy. I’m all for freedom of speech, but this is a hate march by fans of a theocratic Islamist dictatorship that recently slaughtered 36,000 of its own citizens who dared to come out and protest against it.”
The Met Police said: “We recognise that there will be more attention on this protest given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It is likely that numbers will be increased, and the possibility of a counter-protest is greater. We will keep all these matters under careful review and will publish the details of our policing plan closer to the time.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
