A Muslim Brotherhood/far-left coalition held a demonstration last Saturday in London said to number in the “thousands.” According to a Turkish media report:
October 17, 2015 Thousands of people gathered in front of Israel’s London embassy Saturday to protest the escalating violence in the Palestinian territories and violations in holy sites in East Jerusalem.
Various groups, namely Friends of Al-Aqsa, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Muslim Association of Britain and Stop the War Coalition, organized the three-hour rally attended by thousands.
‘Palestine don’t you cry, we will never let you die!’ protesters shouted in solidarity with Palestinians. Some placards read ‘Stop Israel’s war crimes in Palestine’.
‘There will never be peace without justice for the Palestinians. Well, there is no justice for the Palestinians. We are on the streets of London and throughout Britain, we will continue demonstrating our support and tell ‘Palestine is free’,’ said Andrew Murray, a unionist and one of the representatives from Stop the War Coalition.
Former MP George Galloway, who was among those attended, also commented on the recent situation in Palestine.
He told Anadolu Agency that Palestinians ‘have suffered in some cases almost 50 years, in some cases almost 80 years of illegal, military, brute occupation. And the people have had enough. They decided — like the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943 — that it is better to die on your feet than live on your knees’.”
At least one unconfirmed report indicates that anti-Semitic placards were seen at the event.
The groups involved have variously sponsored many similar demonstrations over the years:
- The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) had for many years been the most active organization in the U.K Muslim Brotherhood. Many of the leaders of the MAB left in 2007 to form the British Muslim Initiative (BMI). According to an Israeli think-tank report, the breakup appeared to be the result of a conflict between traditionalists in the MAB who were unhappy with the high level of involvement in U.K left-wing politics while those who who formed the BMI wished such activity to continue. Anas Al-Tikriti, the leader of the BMI, and former MAB official, is the son of Osama Al-Tikriti, one of the leaders of the Iraqi Islamic Party representing the Muslim Brotherhood in that country.
- The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) is part of the UK Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas support infrastructure. Zaher Birawi, the long time PFB media and public relations spokesperson, is also a director of the Palestine Return Centere (PRC) which has strong ties to Hamas and to the Global Muslim Brotherhood. In July 2012, we reported on a meeting with Hamas leaders that included Mr. Birawi.
- Friends of Al-Aqsa is a pro-Hamas organization based in Leicester which advocates Israel’s elimination and which frequently acts in coalitions with the UK Muslim Brotherhood. The Stop the War Coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) are far-left UK groups that have long been part of UK Brotherhood coalitions. The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign is close to Hamas and is known to have met with the highest ranks of the Hamas leadership
- The Stop the War Coalition is a far-left antiwar group that has long been part of UK Muslim Brotherhood coalitions.
