The London Assembly has condemned the decision to allow the Al Quds Day parade to become an annual event in London.
The Assembly believes the event provides an opportunity for anti-Semitic organisations to publicise themselves.
A motion, agreed today, called on the Mayor to write to the Home Secretary, urging her to take action, so the Met can protect London against the promotion of terrorist material at the march.
David Kurten AM, who proposed the original motion, said:
“The annual Al-Quds Day Parade is a huge concern to many Londoners. Marchers openly carry Hezbollah flags through the streets of London – an organisation which opposes the existence of Israel. I believe that this rally is a nexus for anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic sentiment and it is not right that it is allowed to continue.
On 23rd June, I wrote to the Home Secretary, asking her to close the loophole which allows it to happen and ban the political wing of Hezbollah, in order to bring the UK into line with the USA, France, The Netherlands, Bahrain, Australia and the Arab League. This motion asks the Mayor to add his voice to get this anti-Semitic rally banned.”
Andrew Dismore AM, who proposed the amended motion said:
"This march is a vehicle to spread a detestable message of anti-Semitism.
I have long argued that Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation and their purported distinction between a ‘political’ and ‘military’ wing is a false one. I believe Hezbollah should be proscribed in its entirety, as it is in so many other countries.
The Mayor’s extensive work to tackle hatred of all kinds must now be matched with real action from government. It's time the Home Secretary supported fully Londoners and the Mayor in protecting London from the sorts of message promoted by this march."
The full text of the Motion is:
“This Assembly notes with alarm that the Al Quds Day parade has become an event which many people consider to be anti-Semitic.
This Assembly believes that this march provides an opportunity for anti-Semitic organisations to publicise themselves and that the Police have been unable to prevent the display of material that aims to recruit to terrorist organisations. We also note the loophole which allows Hezbollah flags to be flown in the streets of London and that the political wing of Hezbollah is not proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom, unlike in the United States, France, Israel, the Netherlands, Bahrain, Australia and the Arab League, where the whole of Hezbollah is proscribed in full as a terrorist organisation.
We call upon the Mayor to now act upon this and write to the Home Secretary on behalf of the people of London to ask her to take action to ensure that the Met Police can protect London against the promotion of terrorist material and violence. We further support the Mayor’s work to tackle all forms of prejudice, and the violence that arises from it, including faith-based prejudice such as anti-Semitism and islamophobia; as well as attacks on race, gender, sexual orientation and disability.”
Notes to editors
- Watch the full webcast.
- The motion was agreed by 18 votes for and 0 against
- David Kurten AM is available for interview – see contact details below.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Mary Dolan on 020 7983 4603. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.