Courts Minister Sarah Sackman Condemns Iran-Linked Al Quds Day March in Britain

Courts Minister Sarah Sackman publicly condemned the annual Al Quds Day march planned in London, saying “hate on marches like the Al Quds march has no place in British society” and urging authorities and police to take enforcement action.

“- Published The government has approved a request from the police to ban the Al Quds Day march in London on Sunday to prevent "serious public disorder" given the conflict in the Middle East, the home secretary has said”

BBC

She told Times Radio she did not want the march and that the decision would rest with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and the police, adding “The decision’s not for me, but I’ve made my views very clear.”

BBC

The planned event — part of a long-standing international demonstration — has prompted a cross-party push to ban it amid concerns it could legitimise Tehran’s agenda, while organisers maintain it supports Palestinians and oppressed people globally.

The march is organised in Britain by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and has a decades‑long history: organisers describe Al Quds Day as an international demonstration in support of Palestinians and other oppressed groups.

The BBC notes the event has occurred “for the last 40 years peacefully.”

Politico Europe

Politico adds that the IHRC’s London demonstration is explicitly linked by critics to Tehran’s wider agenda, a contention that has driven a cross‑party group of MPs and peers to call for a ban this year.

Calls to ban the march intensified after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, with critics arguing the event could provide a platform for hostile views; the BBC reports those calls increased substantially in the wake of that attack.

“- Published The government has approved a request from the police to ban the Al Quds Day march in London on Sunday to prevent "serious public disorder" given the conflict in the Middle East, the home secretary has said”

BBC

Sackman escalated the rhetoric in interviews, telling LBC that marchers “shouldn’t be on the streets of London calling for hate and hostility against this country. That’s thoroughly anti‑British.”

At the same time, defenders of the demonstration warn that banning it would curtail freedom of expression and assembly.

Organisers and supporters have defended the march’s record and rejected claims it supports terrorism or antisemitism.

Politico cites IHRC Chair Massoud Shadjareh saying accusations were “exaggerated and patently false” and that the demonstration has “always been good‑natured and peaceful.”

Politico Europe

BBC coverage includes supporters such as Faisal Bodi saying he would “happily” hold a picture of the Iranian ayatollah and framing participation as standing “on the right side of justice.”

Public‑order considerations and precedent factor into official choices: the BBC notes that last year hundreds joined the Al Quds Day march in central London with counter‑demonstrators also present and police separating the groups.

“- Published The government has approved a request from the police to ban the Al Quds Day march in London on Sunday to prevent "serious public disorder" given the conflict in the Middle East, the home secretary has said”

BBC

The government's former independent adviser on political violence and disruption told the BBC he supported the Met's request to ban the march.

BBC

Politico highlights that the Home Secretary and police will decide if enforcement or a ban is applied this weekend.