Police cut ties with adviser after ‘From the river to the sea’ chant
Videos emerged of Attiq Malik, a lawyer and chair of the London Muslim Communities Forum, leading a pro-Palestine chant
The police adviser who was filmed leading chants of “From the river to the sea” has been suspended by the Metropolitan Police.
Solicitor Attiq Malik was present in the force’s Lambeth operations room monitoring protests in central London last month.
Attiq Malik was recorded in 2021 making the speech, ending it with the chant “from the river to the sea”, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
Mr Malik, a lawyer, is the chair of the London Muslim Communities Forum, a body that advises the Met.
In a response to the video shared by the newspaper, the Met said he had expressed views that “appear anti-Semitic and contrary with our values.”
The decision comes after The Telegraph uncovered a video of Malik, chair of the London Muslim Communities Forum, orchestrating chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” during a demo in May 2021.
A hard left activist, Malik is the chairman of London Communities Forum – a ‘strategic advisory body’ for Scotland Yard which helps to ‘shape police policy and procedure at a strategic level’.
Downing Street described the footage as “deeply offensive“ to many, particularly the Jewish community.
Scotland Yard said: “The video shared by the Telegraph today has brought to our attention that the chair of the London Muslim Communities Forum has expressed views in a way which does not align to the Met’s values.
“We regularly engage with a whole range of community groups, many of which hold strongly opposing views. It is important that we continue to listen to opposing views. This is how we put community voices at the heart of policing London.
“This instance has highlighted past language and views expressed by Attiq Malik that appear anti-Semitic and contrary with our values. As a result we will be immediately ceasing our relationship with Mr Malik whilst we investigate.
“We will continue to engage with the LMCF and the full range of faith and community advisers. The insights, feedback and reach into communities across London continues to play an important role in our response.
“We are already working on a new advisory group ‘charter’ that will include a shared commitment to engage through mutual respect and inclusivity.”
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