Shabana Mahmood approves police request to ban Al Quds march in London
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has approved a Metropolitan Police request to ban the al quds march planned in London, saying the move is necessary to prevent serious public disorder. The ban takes effect from 16: 00 ET on Wednesday, 11 March and will last one month, covering a demonstration that had been due to take place on Sunday in the capital. Officials cited the scale of the planned march, multiple counter-protests and the volatile international context as the reasons for the decision.
Al Quds march: Why the ban was granted
The Metropolitan Police judged the annual Al Quds Day march uniquely contentious and risky. Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, Public Order lead at the Metropolitan Police, said: “The Home Secretary has consented to the Metropolitan Police banning Sunday’s Al Quds march and any associated counter-protest marches. This will be in place from 16: 00hrs on Wednesday, 11 March and last one month. ” Adelekan described the threshold to ban a protest as high and emphasised that this is the first time the power has been used since 2012.
Officials pointed to a combination of factors: the event’s origins and organisation, planned counter-protests, and recent security warnings. The Met noted the march in London was organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, described in official remarks as an organisation supportive of the Iranian regime. The force also referenced recent national security concerns, including that MI5 and Counter Terrorism Policing have foiled over 20 Iranian state-backed attacks on the UK, and arrests made under the National Security Act in relation to alleged spying on Jewish communities.
Immediate reactions from officials
Shabana Mahmood justified the ban in stark terms: “I am satisfied doing so is necessary to prevent serious public disorder, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. ” She added: “Should a stationary demonstration proceed, the police will be able to apply strict conditions. I expect to see the full force of the law applied to anyone spreading hatred and division instead of exercising their right to peaceful protest. “
Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan framed the decision as narrowly focused on risk: “We do not police taste or decency or prefer one political view over another, but we will do everything we can to reduce violence and disorder. ” The Met noted previous Al Quds marches have resulted in arrests for supporting terrorist organisations and antisemitic hate crimes, and said ongoing engagement with Jewish, Muslim and Iranian community representatives will continue into the weekend.
What happens next
The ban covers both the planned procession and associated counter-protest marches; police advised that stationary demonstrations may still be subject to strict conditions. The Met warned that while the right to protest will be protected, “those who crossover into criminality will face the full force of the law. ” Security and community engagement work is expected to continue through the period of the ban as forces monitor public order risks in the capital.
Authorities have signalled this is a time of heightened vigilance; the coming days will show whether the ban reduces clashes and disorder or whether enforcement and community outreach will be tested by events linked to al quds.
