| Al Quds protest march 08:11 - Mar 11 with 2219 views | Crawfordsboot |
Should it be banned and if so how does that reconcile with the right to protest? |  | | |  |
| Al Quds protest march on 08:37 - Mar 11 with 1573 views | StokieBlue |
There has never been any issues with the protest that has run for the last 40 years I believe on an annual basis.
However the spokesperson on Radio 4 last night didn't cover himself in glory with some of his answers which were a rather bizarre and made him sound like an idiot.
Looks like the banning decision has been made on some intelligence that some people might wave flags, if that is against the law then arrest those people but it hasn't happened yet. I would be interested to see if people view this differently to the banning of away fans at the Villa match. That caused a big stir but was also done on intelligence of what could happen (bad intelligence as it played out).
Happy to be corrected if the above is incorrect, I only heard an interview around it on The World Tonight last night.
SB [Post edited 11 Mar 8:40]
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| Al Quds protest march on 09:55 - Mar 11 with 1514 views | RegencyBlue |
| Al Quds protest march on 08:37 - Mar 11 by StokieBlue |
There has never been any issues with the protest that has run for the last 40 years I believe on an annual basis.
However the spokesperson on Radio 4 last night didn't cover himself in glory with some of his answers which were a rather bizarre and made him sound like an idiot.
Looks like the banning decision has been made on some intelligence that some people might wave flags, if that is against the law then arrest those people but it hasn't happened yet. I would be interested to see if people view this differently to the banning of away fans at the Villa match. That caused a big stir but was also done on intelligence of what could happen (bad intelligence as it played out).
Happy to be corrected if the above is incorrect, I only heard an interview around it on The World Tonight last night.
SB [Post edited 11 Mar 8:40]
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Might also have something to do with the fact the regime they are supporting slaughtered up to 40000 of it’s own people in January!
Also counter protests were being planned.
Totally the right decision. |  | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 10:02 - Mar 11 with 1467 views | StokieBlue |
| Al Quds protest march on 09:55 - Mar 11 by RegencyBlue |
Might also have something to do with the fact the regime they are supporting slaughtered up to 40000 of it’s own people in January!
Also counter protests were being planned.
Totally the right decision. |
My understanding is that it's an annual march that is about far more than the Iranian regime as per my original post. Happy to be corrected on that if it's not the case.
Are you saying that any protest where counter protests are organised should be banned? By that logic, every protest in the UK would be banned. That's a totally unworkable reason to ban a march or protest.
I'll try and do some more reading on it today at some point. As I said, the spokesman on Radio 4 last night wasn't great at all but not everyone would be like him.
SB [Post edited 11 Mar 10:09]
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| Al Quds protest march on 10:26 - Mar 11 with 1394 views | Radlett_blue |
| Al Quds protest march on 10:02 - Mar 11 by StokieBlue |
My understanding is that it's an annual march that is about far more than the Iranian regime as per my original post. Happy to be corrected on that if it's not the case.
Are you saying that any protest where counter protests are organised should be banned? By that logic, every protest in the UK would be banned. That's a totally unworkable reason to ban a march or protest.
I'll try and do some more reading on it today at some point. As I said, the spokesman on Radio 4 last night wasn't great at all but not everyone would be like him.
SB [Post edited 11 Mar 10:09]
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If it were a protest about some facet of the UK regime, then it shouldn't be banned as the right to peaceful anti-government protest is a fundamental part of democracy. But banning a pro-Palestinian march in Britain is OK with me as there will be obvious public safety issues. |  |
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| Al Quds protest march on 10:49 - Mar 11 with 1354 views | BlacknGoldnBlue |
Between 2022 and 2023, the Conservative government introduced two major pieces of legislation that fundamentally reshaped protest law:
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022: This gave police broad powers to restrict protests based on "noise" levels if they were deemed to cause "serious disruption" or "serious unease" to an organisation or the public.
Public Order Act 2023: This introduced several new criminal offences, including "locking-on" (attaching oneself to objects or others), "tunnelling," and "interfering with key national infrastructure". It also expanded suspicion less stop and search powers for protest-related items.
Lowering the Disruption Threshold: Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman introduced regulations in 2023 that lowered the threshold for police intervention from "serious disruption" to anything "more than minor".
Despite previous opposition to some of these "draconian" measures, the current Labour government has maintained and, in some cases, sought to expand these powers:
Crime and Policing Bill 2025: This new legislation aims to further restrict "repeat" protests by allowing police to consider the "cumulative impact" of demonstrations in an area, even if organised by different groups.
New Criminal Offences: The government is introducing specific offences for climbing on war memorials and possessing pyrotechnics at protests.
Face Covering Ban: New powers allow police to designate areas where protesters are prohibited from wearing face coverings to conceal their identity.
Legal Continuity: While the "more than minor" disruption threshold was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2025 after a legal challenge by Liberty, the current Home Secretary initially defended the appeal before eventually dropping it.
Critics from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International argue these combined measures represent a "chilling" shift towards state control over dissent.
The right to protest is severely under attack! |  |
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| Al Quds protest march on 10:56 - Mar 11 with 1334 views | StokieBlue |
| Al Quds protest march on 10:26 - Mar 11 by Radlett_blue |
If it were a protest about some facet of the UK regime, then it shouldn't be banned as the right to peaceful anti-government protest is a fundamental part of democracy. But banning a pro-Palestinian march in Britain is OK with me as there will be obvious public safety issues. |
Given safety issues are the concern, I don't really see how any march can go ahead on any subject as there will always be counter protestors.
Take the right wing nationalist marches as an example for instance.
SB | | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 11:20 - Mar 11 with 1262 views | Blueschev |
| Al Quds protest march on 08:37 - Mar 11 by StokieBlue |
There has never been any issues with the protest that has run for the last 40 years I believe on an annual basis.
However the spokesperson on Radio 4 last night didn't cover himself in glory with some of his answers which were a rather bizarre and made him sound like an idiot.
Looks like the banning decision has been made on some intelligence that some people might wave flags, if that is against the law then arrest those people but it hasn't happened yet. I would be interested to see if people view this differently to the banning of away fans at the Villa match. That caused a big stir but was also done on intelligence of what could happen (bad intelligence as it played out).
Happy to be corrected if the above is incorrect, I only heard an interview around it on The World Tonight last night.
SB [Post edited 11 Mar 8:40]
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I have zero sympathy for the Iranian regime, nor anybody who supports it. I do however have concerns that a protest which has been going on for many years can be outlawed due an ongoing conflict that we are not even officially involved in, on the premise that there may be trouble. It's a slippery slope, and one that goes deeper than any opinion on the march itself. |  | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 12:07 - Mar 11 with 1185 views | bluelagos |
No, because banning marches is the sort of thing they do in oppressive places like Iran. |  |
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| Al Quds protest march on 12:39 - Mar 11 with 1126 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Al Quds protest march on 09:55 - Mar 11 by RegencyBlue |
Might also have something to do with the fact the regime they are supporting slaughtered up to 40000 of it’s own people in January!
Also counter protests were being planned.
Totally the right decision. |
Organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission - how ironic. I wonder if they protested when Iran were shooting thousands of women and student on cold blood.
Even the internal health ministry is suggesting around 30,000 - so many that they ran out of bodybag:
https://time.com/7357635/more-
Anyone marching in support of that is twisted. |  | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 12:42 - Mar 11 with 1119 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Al Quds protest march on 12:07 - Mar 11 by bluelagos |
No, because banning marches is the sort of thing they do in oppressive places like Iran. |
At least we have the right to trial by jury…oh wait… | | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 12:52 - Mar 11 with 1085 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Al Quds protest march on 08:37 - Mar 11 by StokieBlue |
There has never been any issues with the protest that has run for the last 40 years I believe on an annual basis.
However the spokesperson on Radio 4 last night didn't cover himself in glory with some of his answers which were a rather bizarre and made him sound like an idiot.
Looks like the banning decision has been made on some intelligence that some people might wave flags, if that is against the law then arrest those people but it hasn't happened yet. I would be interested to see if people view this differently to the banning of away fans at the Villa match. That caused a big stir but was also done on intelligence of what could happen (bad intelligence as it played out).
Happy to be corrected if the above is incorrect, I only heard an interview around it on The World Tonight last night.
SB [Post edited 11 Mar 8:40]
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I'm two minds about this. Despite Al Quds attracting support for terror organisations and rampant antisemitism, the right to protest is one of the things that sets us apart from the Islamic theocracy in Iran.
So m first thought is that those openly supporting proscribed terrorist organisations such Hezbollah or Hamas at Al Quds should be arrested and those supporting the barbaric regime in Iran should be shamed. So I'm not comfortable with the event being banned.
That said, the event is organised by The Islamic Human Rights Commission, who are supportive of the Iranian regime and last week said in a statement that Iranian former supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed as he “stood on the right side of history” and that his death would be “mourned by freedom loving people all over the world.” Only last month this barbaric regime murdered over 40,000 of their own citizens.
It's also worth remembering that in the last year alone MI5 and Counter Terrorism Policing have foiled over 20 Iranian state-backed attacks on the UK and just last week counter-terrorism officers arrested four people after they allegedly spied on Jewish communities for the Iranian regime. So I can understand the objection to the march taking place this year. |  |
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| Al Quds protest march on 18:26 - Mar 11 with 921 views | blueoutlook |
Course it should. They slaughtered 400000 people a month back,no way should they be allowed to support such a regime. Right decision. |  | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 18:40 - Mar 11 with 902 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Al Quds protest march on 11:20 - Mar 11 by Blueschev |
I have zero sympathy for the Iranian regime, nor anybody who supports it. I do however have concerns that a protest which has been going on for many years can be outlawed due an ongoing conflict that we are not even officially involved in, on the premise that there may be trouble. It's a slippery slope, and one that goes deeper than any opinion on the march itself. |
Agreed. There’s trouble at football regularly, so do we proscribe fan clubs next and prevent fans from gathering? Sounds daft, but there are parallels if decisions are to be made on the possibility of trouble. Actually, it’s probably not a good idea to give Mahmood that sort of idea as she’s got hell of an authoritarian streak about her!
I’m a bit concerned about where the drip fed attack on rights to protest will take us.
I can see the other side of the argument though. Current events do make this particular event more of a potential flashpoint, especially if counter protests take place as reported. I couldn’t really give a monkeys about the event itself tbh, but there’s a principle of right to protest to preserve. |  |
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| Al Quds protest march on 19:57 - Mar 11 with 844 views | brazil1982 |
Should never have been tolerated. It's a day of rage against Israel that has attracted support for terror organisations. No place in our society for this. |  | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 21:45 - Mar 11 with 783 views | Crawfordsboot |
| Al Quds protest march on 10:26 - Mar 11 by Radlett_blue |
If it were a protest about some facet of the UK regime, then it shouldn't be banned as the right to peaceful anti-government protest is a fundamental part of democracy. But banning a pro-Palestinian march in Britain is OK with me as there will be obvious public safety issues. |
Would you say the same if we change the word “Palestinian replacing it with Israeli or the USA? | | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 21:49 - Mar 11 with 774 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Al Quds protest march on 21:45 - Mar 11 by Crawfordsboot |
Would you say the same if we change the word “Palestinian replacing it with Israeli or the USA? |
There are pro Palestine marches up and down the country every weekend. No one objects to them going ahead. A Quds is far more than a pro Palestine march, as you well know. | |
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| Al Quds protest march on 22:01 - Mar 11 with 745 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Al Quds protest march on 21:49 - Mar 11 by GlasgowBlue |
There are pro Palestine marches up and down the country every weekend. No one objects to them going ahead. A Quds is far more than a pro Palestine march, as you well know. |
"No one objects to them going ahead." Are you sure, maybe check with your archivist. |  |
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| Al Quds protest march on 22:19 - Mar 11 with 734 views | StokieBlue |
| Al Quds protest march on 19:57 - Mar 11 by brazil1982 |
Should never have been tolerated. It's a day of rage against Israel that has attracted support for terror organisations. No place in our society for this. |
Are you happy with the actions of is Israel that have contributed to thousands of deaths in the religion?
Do you think there should be no push back? That's certainly what your post implies so I would appreciate some clarification.
SB | | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 22:30 - Mar 11 with 708 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Al Quds protest march on 22:19 - Mar 11 by StokieBlue |
Are you happy with the actions of is Israel that have contributed to thousands of deaths in the religion?
Do you think there should be no push back? That's certainly what your post implies so I would appreciate some clarification.
SB |
Nobody is happy about the actions of the Israeli state, which amount to war crimes. However, as AlQuds is very much a Pro Iranian regime, pro Hamas, pro Houthis and pro Hezbollah event, all of whom have contributed to as many, if not more, deaths in the region (estimated 223,000+ deaths occurred due to hunger and preventable diseases directly caused by the Iranian sponsored Houthi’s alone), is anyone happy about that people wanted to put this event on?
If people want to show support for Palestine and vent their anger against the Israeli state, there are plenty of marches and protests taking place every weekend across the country that they can attend without soiling themselves by being associated with this particular hate fest. [Post edited 11 Mar 22:40]
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| Al Quds protest march on 23:02 - Mar 11 with 670 views | StokieBlue |
| Al Quds protest march on 22:30 - Mar 11 by GlasgowBlue |
Nobody is happy about the actions of the Israeli state, which amount to war crimes. However, as AlQuds is very much a Pro Iranian regime, pro Hamas, pro Houthis and pro Hezbollah event, all of whom have contributed to as many, if not more, deaths in the region (estimated 223,000+ deaths occurred due to hunger and preventable diseases directly caused by the Iranian sponsored Houthi’s alone), is anyone happy about that people wanted to put this event on?
If people want to show support for Palestine and vent their anger against the Israeli state, there are plenty of marches and protests taking place every weekend across the country that they can attend without soiling themselves by being associated with this particular hate fest. [Post edited 11 Mar 22:40]
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Hey GB, I hope you are well.
I hoped that Brazil would explain himself but since you've risen to the mantle I'll address you instead.
He directly referred to it as an "a day of rage against Israel" and I would like to hear his thoughts on why people shouldn't vent their anger at the current Israeli government.
He didn't mention Iran or the horrific things they have done in the region so whilst you're not wrong in your points, it's not what he was referencing.
I would like to hear the justification on why people shouldn't be hateful of the current Israeli government.
SB | | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 23:06 - Mar 11 with 648 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Al Quds protest march on 23:02 - Mar 11 by StokieBlue |
Hey GB, I hope you are well.
I hoped that Brazil would explain himself but since you've risen to the mantle I'll address you instead.
He directly referred to it as an "a day of rage against Israel" and I would like to hear his thoughts on why people shouldn't vent their anger at the current Israeli government.
He didn't mention Iran or the horrific things they have done in the region so whilst you're not wrong in your points, it's not what he was referencing.
I would like to hear the justification on why people shouldn't be hateful of the current Israeli government.
SB |
All good thanks. Hope yiu are likewise.
Yeah fair comment. That’s up to Brazil to answer. What I would say is Al Quds goes behind being hateful of the Israeli government. Supporting groups who want to wipe out all Jews in the region. | |
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| Al Quds protest march on 07:56 - Mar 12 with 517 views | DJR |
Those involved in the march may indeed have distasteful views but we don't ban the marches of Tommy Robinson because of what some may regard as his distasteful views.
Indeed, my starting point in matters such as this is the words of John Stuart Mill.
"If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
As it is, the march has been banned under section 13(4) of the Public Order Act 1986 which makes no mention of the motives or views of those taking part in a demonstration, and confines itself to the risk of serious public order.
"13(4) If at any time the Commissioner of Police for the City of London or the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis reasonably believes that, because of particular circumstances existing in his police area or part of it, the powers under section 12 will not be sufficient to prevent the holding of public processions in that area or part from resulting in serious public disorder, he may with the consent of the Secretary of State make an order prohibiting for such period not exceeding 3 months as may be specified in the order the holding of all public processions (or of any class of public procession so specified) in the area or part concerned."
Of course it may well be that there is risk of serious public disorder because of the likelihood of clashes, say, between pro- and anti- Iran regime protesters but the Met's statement could be said in parts to stray beyond public order.
https://news.met.police.uk/new
For example.
"We have taken into consideration the likely impact on protests of the volatile situation in the Middle East, with the Iranian regime attacking British allies and military bases overseas."
This from the Guardian also makes no mention of disorder (and is worrying because it involves a government minister attempting to influence the police).
"Calls to ban the march first intensified after comments by the courts minister, Sarah Sackman, who told LBC radio on Tuesday: “Those expressing support for the malign regime in Iran and the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and its proxies have no place in our society. They shouldn’t be on the streets of London calling for hate and hostility against this country.
That’s thoroughly anti-British and I expect the police and the home secretary to take the necessary action against those people."
We must also not forget how wrong the West Midlands police's grounds were when Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned.
Perhaps it points to the police being much more transparent in advance about the actual risks of serious public disorder, rather than us taking it on trust.
And it must be borne in mind that there has been increasing rhetoric by the government and police about the police being more pro-active in relation to pro-Palestinian protests. We also have a fairly authoritarian Home Secretary who is unlikely to overrule the police. And we also mustn't let police resources become a back-door reason for banning protest. [Post edited 12 Mar 8:29]
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| Al Quds protest march on 08:19 - Mar 12 with 468 views | BloomBlue |
In the same way we banned football fans travelling to the UK because they were Jewish and hid behind a lie of it was a danger to local residents.
The Met police have followed the West Midlands police route and banned it for potential violence.
People in London have a right to go about their lives without the threat of violence and protesters rights shouldn't supersede that right.
I never understand this passion people have that protesters rights supersede all other rights.
This group is pro Iran, I don't see why it should be allowed in this situation with the Iran war. Makes me laugh a lot of people are complaining about it, are the same who said WM police with correct in banning Jewish football fans travelling because of 'potential violence' |  | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 08:34 - Mar 12 with 430 views | Churchman |
| Al Quds protest march on 18:26 - Mar 11 by blueoutlook |
Course it should. They slaughtered 400000 people a month back,no way should they be allowed to support such a regime. Right decision. |
You are right. Whilst the right to protest is a fundamental liberty here, there is a limit. Supporting a regime like that breeches that limit in my view. Ban.
In all the hatred of Trump and his bizarre actions, I think it’s forgotten just how appalling the Iran regime is. None of our business? Well, given Glasgow’s point about the number of actions prevented by the security services, I’d say it is our business. |  | | |
| Al Quds protest march on 08:38 - Mar 12 with 407 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Al Quds protest march on 08:34 - Mar 12 by Churchman |
You are right. Whilst the right to protest is a fundamental liberty here, there is a limit. Supporting a regime like that breeches that limit in my view. Ban.
In all the hatred of Trump and his bizarre actions, I think it’s forgotten just how appalling the Iran regime is. None of our business? Well, given Glasgow’s point about the number of actions prevented by the security services, I’d say it is our business. |
And not to mention it’s a real kick in the teeth to the 10’s thousands of Iranians who’ve fled the regime and claimed asylum and safety in the UK. | | | |
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