Organisers of tomorrow’s Al-Quds Day event are resisting calls to tone down the event for fear that it may cause offence to pro-Israel groups.

The annual rally and march in support of Palestinian rights is set to attract a huge number of participants this year amid Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Thousands of protestors are expected to descend on London from all over the country for this year’s rally and march. The turnout could be the biggest to date in the long history of the event in view of the continuing genocide in Gaza which has so far seen over 33,000 Palestinians slaughtered, most of them women and children.

IHRC has been alerted to the likely presence of counter-demonstrators who may be offended by the trenchant criticism of Israel that characterises pro-Palestine demonstrations.

IHRC chair Massoud Shadjareh said: “We are not here to appease a handful of genocide apologists. We are demonstrating to highlight the injustices and horrors being faced by the Palestinian people. It will be business as usual.”

The Al-Quds Day demo has taken place peacefully in London for over 40 years without a single arrest. One of its attractions has always been its inclusiveness with demonstrators coming from all walks of life. Jews, Christians and Muslims, and people of other faiths and none all march in common cause side by side. The event also attracts many women and children.

This year, participants will gather at the Home Office in central London at 3pm before marching to Downing Street.

Al-Quds Day is being supported by the following organisations:

Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission, Ahlulbayt Sisters Association, Black Lives Matter Coalition UK, CAMPAIN, Convivencia Alliance, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!, Hands Off Uhuru Hands Off Africa, InMinds Human Rights Group, Islamic Human Rights Commission, Jewish Network for Palestine, Leeds University Palestine Solidarity Group, Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK, Neturei Karta, No2NATO, Palestine Pulse, Peacekeeper Trust, & Scotland Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Further details are available here.

IHRC is also continuing with the #FlyTheFlag and #boycottapartheid campaign which proved highly successful during the pandemic. This calls on freedom seeking people from around the world to raise the flag for Palestine from 1st April. People can fly the flag and promote #boycottapartheid outside their home, workplace, on their car, or wherever they find suitable.

For more information or comment please contact the Press Office on (+44) 208 904 0222  or (+44) 7958 522196 or email media@ihrc.org [ENDS]