MARKET STRUCTURE · REGULATORY · UK
Home secretary approves ban on Al Quds march
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Home secretary Shabana Mahmood approved a Metropolitan Police request to ban the Al Quds Day pro-Palestinian march in London planned for Sunday to prevent serious public disorder.
Why it matters
The ban was authorised on grounds of preventing serious public disorder, citing the scale of the protest, multiple counter-protests, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Organisers had expressed support for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and apparent support for the Iranian regime. Police will be able to apply strict conditions to a stationary demonstration. The Metropolitan Police has not banned a protest march since 2012. The decision followed calls from Labour and Conservative MPs to ban the march.
Implications
- • Organisers cannot hold the planned procession on the scheduled date.
- • Any stationary demonstration will be subject to strict police-imposed conditions.
Who is affected
- • Protest organisers
- • Metropolitan Police operational commanders
- • Home Office ministers and officials
- • Demonstrators and counter-protesters
What to watch
- • Scheduled march date: Sunday
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