Government Approves Ban on Al Quds Day March in London
The government has approved a request from the Metropolitan Police to prohibit a march scheduled to take place in London on Sunday.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the ban aims to prevent "serious public disorder" at the annual Al Quds Day march, which has historically been viewed as pro-Iranian, although organisers describe it as a pro-Palestinian event.
Mahmood further explained that a stationary demonstration could be permitted instead, subject to strict conditions.
The Metropolitan Police emphasized that the threshold for banning a protest is high and that the decision was not made lightly.
Reactions from Organisers and Officials
Faisal Bodi, representing the Islamic Human Rights Commission, which organises the event, commented earlier that a ban would mark a "sad day for freedom of expression."
"I have approved the Metropolitan Police's request to ban the Al Quds march," Mahmood said in an official statement.
"I am satisfied doing so is 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.
Should a stationary demonstration proceed, the police will be able to apply strict conditions. I expect to see the full force of the law applied to anyone spreading hatred and division instead of exercising their right to peaceful protest."
Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, the Public Order lead for the Metropolitan Police, detailed that the ban covers the "Al Quds march and any associated counter-protest marches" and will be effective from 16:00 on Wednesday, lasting for one month.
"The Al Quds march is uniquely contentious having originated in Iran and in London is organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, an organisation supportive of the Iranian regime," he added.
He noted that the power to ban a march had not been exercised since 2012 and highlighted the Met's experience in safely policing hundreds of protests across the political spectrum, including 32 major pro-Palestinian protests and numerous others both supporting and opposing the Iranian regime.
"But in our assessment this march raises unique risks and challenges," he continued.
"We must consider the likely high numbers of protestors and counter protestors coming together and the extreme tensions between different factions. We have taken into consideration the likely impact on protests of the volatile situation in the Middle East, with the Iranian regime attacking British allies and military bases overseas."
The assistant commissioner also referenced previous Al Quds marches, which had "resulted in arrests for supporting terrorist organisations and antisemitic hate crimes."
"However, the decision to ban it this year is purely based on a risk assessment of this specific protest and counter-protests – we do not police taste or decency or prefer one political view over another, but we will do everything we can to reduce violence and disorder," he said.
Organisers' Perspective and Public Debate
The Islamic Human Rights Commission describes Al Quds Day as an "international demonstration... in support of Palestinians and all the oppressed around the world."
Speaking to Radio 4's The World Tonight programme before the ban was confirmed, Faisal Bodi stated:
"If it's true then it's a sad day for freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and the right of people to legitimately protest about issues they feel strongly about."
"This demonstration has taken place for the last 40 years peacefully," he added.
The government's former independent adviser on political violence and disruption, Lord Walney, also spoke to the same programme, expressing his view that the Metropolitan Police's request to ban the march was the "right decision."
Calls to ban the Al Quds Day march occur most years and intensified following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
