What is Al Quds Day and why has this yr’s march been banned? | EUROtoday

The Home Secretary has granted a request from the Metropolitan Police to ban 1000’s of pro-Palestinian protesters from marching by central London this Sunday for the annual Al Quds Day demonstration.

Shabana Mahmood mentioned she was glad the ban 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”.

What is Al Quds Day?

Al Quds Day is a world occasion held every year to precise solidarity with Palestine.

It was established in 1979, shortly after the Iranian Revolution, by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran’s first supreme chief.

Al Quds Day is called after the Arabic title for Jerusalem and normally takes place on the final Friday of Ramadan.

On Al Quds Day, protests and rallies are held in numerous international locations around the globe.

Who organises the occasion within the UK?

According to the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), the London rally is organised by the UK Al-Quds Committee.

It mentioned the committee entails organisations amongst which the IHRC is “prominent”.

Set up in 1997, the IHRC describes itself as a non-profit organisation that “struggles for justice for all peoples regardless of their racial, confessional or political background”.

The organisation mentioned Al Quds Day “offers a platform for all those who stand for justice, against colonialism, oppression and apartheid to come together to be the voice of victims”.

Why has the Al Quds Day march drawn criticism beforehand?

The march in London has drawn criticism prior to now over obvious backing for the Iranian regime after its organisers expressed assist for the nation’s late chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It is alleged that members on the march beforehand flew flags of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group and brandished indicators with allegedly antisemitic messages.

The Metropolitan Police mentioned earlier Al Quds Day marches have resulted in arrests for supporting terrorist organisations and antisemitic hate crimes.

Why has it been banned this yr?

The Metropolitan Police mentioned the 2026 Al Quds Day march raises “unique risks and challenges”.

In a press release, it referred to 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 power mentioned it should additionally contemplate the truth that safety providers have been clear in regards to the threats the UK is going through from the Iranian regime.

It added that inserting circumstances on the protest wouldn’t be ample to stop it from leading to “serious public disorder”.

Announcing her determination to ban the march, Ms Mahmood mentioned there’s a “greater potential for conflict” at marches for Al Quds Day in London on account of the continued battle in Iran.

Ms Mahmood’s determination marks the primary time a protest march has been banned since 2012.

What has the IHRC mentioned in regards to the ban?

In a press release on the organisation’s web site, the IHRC mentioned it “strongly condemns” the choice to ban the Al Quds Day march.

The organisation mentioned it’s “seeking legal advice”, including that the “decision will not go unchallenged”.

It mentioned {that a} “static” protest will nonetheless go forward on Sunday and that “all preparations must continue as planned”.