London saw thousands of pro-Iran demonstrators swarm the South Bank of the Thames today for the annual Al-Quds rally—dubbed a ‘hate march’ by critics. Over 1,000 riot police were on high alert to prevent violent clashes amid fiery protests.
Protesters brandished placards with inflammatory slogans like ‘boom boom Tel Aviv’, while chants of ‘from the river to the sea’ and ‘Israel is a terror state’ echoed through the crowd. Images of the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, were held aloft.
Police Make Multiple Arrests as Tensions Flare
The Metropolitan Police confirmed three arrests so far: one for backing a proscribed organisation, another for dangerous driving, and a third for threatening behaviour. The rally was limited to a two-hour static protest after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood banned the planned march over fears of serious disorder.
Using the River Thames as a buffer, police kept pro-Iran demonstrators separated from around 100 counter-protesters who gathered on the opposite bank, waving Israeli flags and signs declaring ‘Hamas is a terrorist’. Police vans lined Lambeth Bridge, and a patrol boat monitored the water.
Heated Speeches and Divisive Messages
Speakers at the rally blasted UK politics and foreign policy. Hussain Shafiei of the Workers Party accused Sir Keir Starmer of being a ‘tool of the deep state’ and condemned Britain for ‘helping this genocide.’
“America and Israel, you are not going to be able to swallow Iran,” Shafiei said. “Benjamin Netanyahu is gone — the murderer of Gaza and Lebanon and Palestine — you’re not going to win.”
Conversely, Rabbi Elhanan Beck, also at the protest, called for peaceful coexistence. “For centuries, we lived together in peace. Now Israel wants to destroy Palestine,” he said, wearing a ‘Free Palestine’ badge.
Strict Policing and Legal Warnings
Met Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan explained the rare move to ban the march: “We did not take the decision lightly. The risk of public disorder was severe.” It was the first protest march banned by police in 14 years.
Police warned they will arrest anyone chanting intifada slogans, displaying support for Palestine Action, or spreading hate. Riot officers will also protect mosques, synagogues, and the Iranian and Israeli embassies.
Funding and Controversies Surround Organisers
The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), the rally’s organisers, condemned the march ban and insisted they would continue with a static protest. However, the group has faced scrutiny for receiving £458,500 in taxpayer-funded donations since 2020 despite investigations into extremist links and accusations of being aligned with the Iranian regime.
A fundraiser linked to the IHRC was filmed last weekend shouting slogans including ‘death to the IDF’ and praising Khamenei, sparking outrage among critics and former Government extremism advisers.
Despite the controversy, the rally has become a fixture in London for 40 years, originating from Iran’s 1979 revolution as a day opposing Israel.
