On Sunday, a British government minister strongly condemned the chanting of "jihad" on the streets of London during pro-Palestinian protests in the UK capital. The protests resulted in at least 10 arrests. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick stated that the matter falls under the purview of the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). He confirmed that some arrests have been made under terrorist legislation.
These protests occurred in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict and were intended as a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Robert Jenrick expressed his concern over the use of the term "jihad" on the streets of London, deeming it "completely reprehensible" and stating that it incites terrorist violence. He emphasized that this issue must be addressed with the full force of the law and that it is a matter for the police and CPS to decide whether to press charges. He also stressed the importance of protecting British Jews and highlighted the need for a consensus that chanting phrases like "jihad" is wrong and reprehensible in the country.
The Metropolitan Police reported "pockets of disorder and some instances of hate speech" during the demonstrations, with five officers sustaining minor injuries. A video from a Hizb ut-Tahrir protest showed a man chanting "jihad," although specialist officers did not identify any offences from that specific clip. Despite this, the police recognized the potential interpretation of such language by the public and spoke to the individual to discourage similar chanting.
The protests in London and other UK cities, with an estimated 100,000 participants in London alone, were largely peaceful and lawful. Investigations are ongoing regarding a video of a London Tube train driver leading a "Free Palestine" chant for protesters during their journey.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in an op-ed for 'The Sunday Telegraph,' expressed the UK's support for Israel's right to defend itself and called Hamas a "murderous enemy." He also highlighted the acute humanitarian crisis in the region. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has been engaged in diplomatic efforts in various countries, including Israel, Turkey, and Qatar, to address the crisis and prevent further instability in the region.
