Organizers of pro-Palestine marches in Britain warn of Starmer's threats to undermine freedoms

The British government is facing a wave of sharp criticism from organizers of pro-Palestinian marches, following statements by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in which he hinted at the possibility of banning some demonstrations. The organizers considered these tendencies a direct threat to freedom of expression and assembly guaranteed by British law, warning of the consequences of sliding towards suppressing voices opposing Israeli policies in the Middle East.

Starmer had stated in a radio interview that he might, in certain cases, support a complete halt to some protests, expressing his desire to tighten legal measures against the rhetoric used in the marches. The Prime Minister focused particularly on chants such as 'globalize the intifada,' which some see as an expression of solidarity with the resistance, while others classify it as an incitement to violence.

For his part, John Rees, the national officer of the 'Stop the War' coalition, described the Prime Minister's statements as a 'blatant threat' to democratic rights. Rees emphasized in press statements that British citizens will not stop demonstrating as long as wars and killings continue, stressing that the British government is considered complicit in these events.

Rees pointed out that the message the demonstrators seek to convey is clear: demanding the British government stop supporting policies that ignite strife in the Middle East. He clarified that these protests do not only affect the lives of Palestinians but have become a global public opinion issue affecting the livelihoods of people across different continents.

Regarding the accusations leveled against some participants, Rees downplayed individual violations, stressing that the number of arrests is very small compared to millions of participants. He added that organizers intervene immediately when any inappropriate slogans are detected and ask their owners to stop, which is widely responded to in most cases.

In contrast, the leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, escalated her rhetoric, demanding a comprehensive ban on pro-Palestine marches, claiming they are used as a cover for intimidation. Badenoch alleged that these events promote violence against the Jewish community, which the organizers denied outright, emphasizing the peaceful nature of the movement and its humanitarian goals.

Rees responded to these claims by affirming that there is no threat to the Jewish community from these marches, citing the participation of thousands of British Jews in these events. He clarified that these participants categorically reject the actions of the Israeli government, which refutes the 'antisemitic' characterization of the popular movement.

'Defend Our Juries' organization entered the crisis, demanding a halt to what it described as 'genocide' instead of targeting public freedoms. The organization affirmed in a brief statement that attempts to restrict peaceful opposition will only increase the protesters' determination in their moral stance towards what is happening in the Gaza Strip.

Starmer, for his part, defended his proposals, stressing that the discussion about banning marches is not new or merely a response to recent security incidents. He clarified that the government has been holding continuous consultations with the police for a long time to discuss the 'cumulative impact' of these protests on social peace and communities' sense of security.

On the security institution level, Mark Rowley, the Police Commissioner, expressed reservations about the idea of a temporary ban on marches, describing it as an 'impractical' step. However, Rowley called for granting the police broader and more precise powers to deal with what he described as the 'chaotic and complex laws' currently governing protests.

Rowley revealed previous attempts by some organizers to include Jewish places of worship within the march routes, which the police prevented by imposing strict conditions. The Police Commissioner considered that such proposals send negative messages that could be understood in the context of antisemitism, regardless of the organizers' true intentions.

The Police Commissioner warned of a dangerous mix he described as combining hate crimes and the influence of hostile foreign states, creating an atmosphere of anxiety for the Jewish community. Despite these warnings, organizers insist that their movement is independent and stems from purely humanitarian motives aimed at stopping the aggression.

In conclusion, John Rees rejected any attempt to link individual attacks that may occur in London to pro-Palestine marches, describing this link as 'pure slander.' He affirmed that individuals involved in assault incidents do not represent the Palestinian movement and have not been proven to have participated in any of the marches organized by the coalition.

A ban would strike at the heart of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression in this country, and as long as the killing continues, people will want to make their voices heard by the government.