The Metropolitan Police in London have refused to accept a letter from pro-Palestinian supporters calling for the reversal of a decision to block their annual march marking the Nakba.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley had refused permission for pro-Palestinian supporters to march through London next month on 16 May. He also approved a far-right march in central London on the same day.
Mark Rowley's office did not receive the pro-Palestinian supporters' letter, which described the decision as "shameful" and called for it to be reversed immediately.
A delegation led by Labour MP John McDonnell went to the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, New Scotland Yard, to deliver the letter. The delegation was barred from entering the building.
Security staff told the group to send the letter by post, saying it could not be accepted in person.
The delegation included several MPs and actors, Khaled Abdalla, of Egyptian origin, and Juliet Stevenson.
It also included representatives of the Palestinian community in Britain, including Professor Kamel Hawwash.
Members of the Palestine Coalition were also present. These included Yasmin Adam of the Muslim Association of Britain, Rebecca Bernard, deputy director of the Campaign for Palestine Solidarity, Sophie Bolt, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Lindsey German, general secretary of Stop the War Coalition in London, Adnan Hmidan of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, and Shamim Jordan of Friends of Al-Aqsa.
Police had previously refused permission for the Palestine movement to hold a march marking the 78th anniversary of the Nakba on 16 May along its proposed route. They had, however, allowed far-right leader Tommy Robinson to organise a march through central London, including Whitehall and the parliamentary district.
The pro-Palestinian letter described the far-right demonstration as a “hate march”. It said the Metropolitan Police should not favour the far right over Palestine.
The letter carries the signatures of 32 MPs and peers from both Houses of Parliament, as well as 180 public figures from a range of political and professional backgrounds.
The signatories said they were "shocked and dismayed" by the Metropolitan Police's refusal to grant permission for the Palestine movement march marking the Nakba. They criticised the decision to instead grant "London political space to a hate march called by Tommy Robinson".
They said the far right had previously targeted the Palestine movement, using verbal and physical violence against it and against the police.
McDonnell said he and fellow MPs would send the letter to the police commissioner from Parliament. Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, he warned police against proceeding with the decision.
Juliet Stevenson said the far right "drafted" the legislation passed by the House of Commons on Tuesday evening, 14 April. The legislation includes powers allowing police to restrict the right to protest and demonstrate.
Actor Khaled Abdalla expressed surprise at the police refusal to allow the Nakba march in Britain, "which was the cause of the Nakba and bears historical responsibility for it". He told The New Arab that "what has been happening in Palestine over the past two years cannot be ignored".
Dr Anas Al-Tikriti, founder of the Cordoba Foundation and former head of the Muslim Association of Britain, said the group was "aware of the slogans and banners that the far right would raise during its march". He warned that allowing it to go ahead "would not serve the interests of this society". Article translated from Arabic by Afrah Almatwari. To read the original, click here .