IHRC is urging the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to ensure the safety of attendees at this year’s Al-Quds Day March in the capital after an orchestrated hate campaign by pro-Israeli media platforms.

Several pro-Israel media outlets including the Daily Mail, the Times, the Telegraph and Jewish Chronicle are once again inciting hatred against participants, IHRC and the other organisations who will participate in the demonstration.

Pro-Zionist MPs such as Luke Akehurst, David Taylor and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp and peers Lord Walney, Lord Austin of Dudley have sought to falsely present the Al-Quds Day demonstration as antisemitic and supportive of terrorism.

These baseless statements, which seek to vilify and demonize a peaceful event, are not only unhelpful but, of even greater concern, can lead to violent consequences. This was evident in June 2017, when Darren Osborne, radicalised by media and political misrepresentations of the Al-Quds Day event, planned to ram demonstrators with his truck. Having failed to break the police cordon, he instead went to a north London mosque and drove his vehicle into a group of worshippers, killing an elderly man. Attendees were protected from his attack at the Al-Quds Day event only because police had created a sterile environment around the march route.

“Given this very real and urgent concern, and for the safety of all those taking part, we request assurance that the Met will undertake a rigorous risk assessment to ensure the protection of our attendees,” says the letter.

IHRC insists that unjustified vilification of this annual event will not change our plans to hold it nor will it impact our long-standing positive relationship with the Met.

In the 40 plus years that the Al Quds Day demonstration has taken place, it has always been good natured and peaceful, with not a single attendee being charged. Both the Metropolitan Police and the judge in the Osborne case have acknowledged its peaceful, family friendly character.

One of the event’s 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.

[ENDS]

For more information or comment please contact the Press Office on (+44) 208 904 0222  or (+44) 7958 522196 or email media@ihrc.org
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IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Islamic Human Rights Commission
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