London Al Quds march re-routed to accomodate fascists

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press

Tuesday September 15, 2009 14:55

by tomeile

Anti-fascists celebrated a victory over the thugs of the English Defence League's last week at Harrow . But the decision of the Greater London Council to bow to the same racist group and ban the annual Al Quds day march from its traditional end venue at Trafalgar Square raises the important question of institutional Islamophobia under the mayorality of Boris Johnston .

The Greater London Authority re-routed last Sunday’s pro-Palestinian Al Quds day march away from Trafalgar Square where it has traditionally ended for many years after coming under pressure from the fascistic English Defence League and other right wing forces . Despite the last minute decision by the GLA , the march went ahead successfully ending near Pall Mal instead .

Raza Kazim, spokesman for the Islamic Human Rights Commission told the Guardian newspaper on Monday that the GLA had used insurance issues as an excuse for the re-routing : “At the last minute after months of negotiation, the GLA told us two days ago we are not allowed to go ahead with the rally in Trafalgar Square. We are very annoyed. It seems they have bowed to the pressure from people like the English Defence League.”

The Al Quds march – which included many non-Muslims as well as a contingent of anti Zionist Jews - went ahead anyway in defiance of Union Jack waving racists and a motley band of Zionists and anti-Ahmadijan Iranian groups which turned up to picket the event .

Commenting on the GLA decision spokesman for the pro- Zionist Mayor of London , Boris Johnston , told the UK Daily Mail : 'The Greater London Authority has at no point given permission to the organisers of this year's event to host a rally in Trafalgar Square .” Raza Kazim however strongly criticized the decision to re-route a march which for twenty- seven years has been associated with Trafalgar Square . He told the Guardian :

‘A place that was being used to raise voices against fascism is now being given over to the very bigots we are supposed to be standing against.’

For a video of the march see:

http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/the-failed-attempts...02882

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London Al Quds march re-routed to accomodate fascists