IHRC has asked the Football Association to explain why it excluded Palestinians killed in the conflict in the holy land from a one minute’s silence it held for victims ahead of the recent international match between England and Italy.
The silence was held to remember Israeli dead in the conflict and two Swedish fans killed in a ‘lone wolf’ attack as they prepared to attend their country’s game against Belgium in Brussels.
Before the game the FA had resisted pressure to light up the Wembley arches in the colours of the Israeli flag.
Following the match spectators contacted IHRC to complain about the selective commemoration saying it had made them feel “insecure and unsafe”.
The move by the FA seems surprising in the light of its decision to include both Palestinians and Israelis in the minute’s silence before a match played four days earlier against Australia at the same stadium.
The letter ends: “In the interests of fostering inclusivity and making Wembley stadium and indeed all stadiums a safe and welcoming environment for all peoples regardless of confessional, ethnic or other backgrounds, we believe some sort of statement needs to be prepared and circulated clarifying your minute’s silence on 17 October and apologizing for the omission of the Palestinians.”
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