In addressing the recent situation, UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak remarked, “Chanting ‘Jihad’ poses a real threat to British democracy.”
This assertion comes following the weekend’s massive demonstrations in London, during which thousands of protestors took to the streets.
While Sunak refrained from discussing legal measures, his official spokesperson clarified that the police would receive “clarity” on their jurisdiction regarding such incidents.
The Metropolitan Police has been under scrutiny for not taking action against extremists who chanted “jihad” during pro-Palestinian marches that drew a crowd of 100,000 on Saturday.
Tory MP Gareth Bacon voiced the concerns of British Jews, stating, “British Jews are feeling increasingly endangered, and the apparent reluctance of the Metropolitan Police to address this issue is exacerbating the situation.”
UK immigration minister Robert Jenrick shared his perspective on the matter during an interview, saying, “Chanting of jihad on the streets during London protests is completely reprehensible.”
He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that the police “do everything that they can to protect British Jews.” He also acknowledged that decisions regarding charges rested with the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
The weekend saw thousands of protesters marching in London in solidarity with Palestine, demanding an immediate end to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, following the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
The Metropolitan Police reported “pockets of disorder and some instances of hate speech” during the demonstrations. Chants of “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” were heard, even amid the controversy surrounding the slogan.
The force said no offence was committed when a man was filmed chanting “jihad, jihad” at a protest in London.
“However, recognising the way language like this will be interpreted by the public and the divisive impact it will have, officers identified the man involved and spoke to him to discourage any repeat of similar chanting,” a spokesperson added.
Regarding an incident where a man chanted “jihad, jihad” during the protest, the police confirmed that no offense had been committed.
However, they recognized the potential divisive impact of such language and engaged with the individual to discourage any future similar behavior.
Minister Jenrick reiterated,
“Chanting jihad on the streets of London is completely reprehensible and I never want to see scenes like that. It is inciting terrorist violence and it needs to be tackled with the full force of the law.
“Ultimately, it’s an operational matter for the police and the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) whether to press charges.”
| Sahara Reporters
