Palestine Supporters Barred from BBC Building in England
British Police Prevent Demonstrators from Gathering Around Synagogue Before Palestine Solidarity March
In a recent statement by the British police, it was revealed that they used their authority to prevent demonstrators from gathering around a synagogue ahead of a planned march by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) on January 18.
The police cited reasons for preventing gatherings in Portland Place and the surrounding area, where the headquarters of the British broadcasting organization BBC is located.
The PSC, one of the main organizers of the march, expressed their disappointment with the ban imposed by the police. They emphasized that the nearest synagogue was not even on the planned march route and that the demonstration was intended to protest the Israeli broadcasts by the BBC.
It was mentioned in the statement that the PSC had confirmed the march route with the police two months ago and it had been agreed upon. The route was announced to the public on November 30, 2024, starting from the BBC building, which has been used in previous marches over the past 15 months.
The PSC accused the British police of imposing the ban under pressure from Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis. They criticized the Chief Rabbi for his support of Israeli military actions in Gaza and rejected any implication that the Palestinian marches were hostile to the Jewish people.
In response to the ban, at least 150 high-level individuals and organizations, including Liberty, Amnesty International, and Greenpeace, issued a joint statement condemning the police’s attempt to prevent the march. The statement, supported by famous musicians, actors, and British MPs, called for the police to allow the protest to continue as planned.
Chief Rabbi Mirvis had previously expressed his discomfort regarding the pro-Palestine marches to the British police, stating that negotiations were ongoing. The controversy surrounding the ban on protests in front of the BBC has sparked debates about freedom of expression in a democratic society.
