Every Ramadan, the IHRC Bookshop and Gallery displays Palestinian flags that are sold as campaign materials for those working for Palestinian liberation and the end of Israeli apartheid. This year, we experienced a campaign of harassment and threats because of this display.  This has included the local MP initially asking us to consider removing the flags.  Having had an exchange of correspondence and then a meeting with our chair, we are delighted to say he has had a change of heart.  We were also visited by a local police officer, who stated that the police have received complaints abut the flags but as far as they were concerned there was no issue with them. They did state however that they feared we would be victims of a hate attack, specifically a “brick being thrown through the window”, as there was a concerted hate campaign brewing.

This campaign has seen people accosting staff instore, and haranguing them.  Some of this, including a letter from one of the local councillors, has taken a racist (both anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian) and highly Islamophobic tone.

We will not be bullied into removing the flags or supporting justice for Palestine.

To find out more about how IHRC has responded to these incidents, please see below:

30^th April: Local MP Pressuring us to Remove Palestine Flag

9^th May: Victory Over Pressure to Remove Palestinian Flag

18^th April: Letter to local MP Barry Gardiner

18^th April: Labour MP Should Apologise for Request to Remove Flag

27^th April: Second Letter to Barry Gardiner re Palestinian Flags

27^th April: Labour MP Refuses to Apologise for Palestinian Flag Removal Request

You can purchase a flag at: shop.ihrc.org