Police have warned protesters that they will be arrested for expressing support for Palestine Action or singing intifada chants at a protest on Sunday.
Some 12,000 people are expected to take part in the annual Al Quds Day demonstration in London, an international demonstration in support of Palestinian rights. The event takes its name from the Arabic version of Jerusalem and was created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after the 1979 Iranian revolution.
This year, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has banned protesters from marching in London. Instead, they are expected to be limited to a two-hour static demonstration on the south bank of the Thames between 1pm and 3pm.
Several counter-protests are also planned to take place on the north bank of the river. These protesters will also be prohibited from marching.
“Officers on the ground will act decisively and will be informed about banners, flags and chants that cross the line of hate crime or support for a proscribed organisation,” said Ade Adelekan, deputy assistant commissioner of the metropolitan police and public order leader.
“As stated above, we will also take action when we see chants calling for intifada. We know that these words have consequences.”
Last month, the high court ruled that the government’s decision to ban Palestine Action was unlawful. However, it remains banned pending an appeal by the Home Office.
Intifada means uprising or resistance in Arabic, but some Jewish groups say it has come to be seen as a call for violence against those of their faith.
Mahmood said earlier this week that she was satisfied that banning a large-scale march was “necessary to prevent serious public unrest, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.”
The march, which organizers say has been held peacefully for 40 years, is planned by a committee that includes the Islamic Human Rights Commission. The IHRC recently condemned the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying he “resisted oppression and stood on the right side of history.”
Previous marches have sparked controversy, with some participants waving flags in support of Hezbollah, the Lebanese group backed by Iran and classified as a terrorist organization by the British government. Some have also participated in chants calling for the death of Israel and the United States.
The IHRC said it had warned protesters they would face arrest for flying flags linked to banned groups.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that it was “a limited and specific ban” that applied only to the Al Quds Day protests and any counter-demonstrations and would be in effect for one month.
The force added that a static protest “will be easier to control” and reduce the risk of clashes between opposing protesters. He said anyone “who marches or incites others to march” will face arrest.
Adelekan said the decision to ban the marches was not made lightly: “This is a unique set of circumstances and our assessment was that the risk of public disorder was so serious that we had no other option.”
The force has not requested a ban on an Al-Quds Day march for 14 years.
“I want to be clear that this decision does not set a precedent. We have not used this power since 2012 and will continue to consider each and every protest on a case-by-case basis,” Adelekan said.
“I expect we are still facing a difficult weekend for public order; we have resources from across the country to assist officers. We will also continue to have a visible police presence at places of worship, community sites and embassies.”
