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Justice for Palestine Committee
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11 September 2009

PRESS RELEASE: UK / Palestine – United for Palestine, Threatened by Fascists
Annual Al-Quds Day March and Rally, 13 September, 2009

Event:         Al-Quds Day March and Rally
Location:    Start at Marble Arch, march to rally at Pall Mall, London
Date:        13 September (Sunday), 2009
Time:        1.30pm onwards
Speakers:    Yvonne Ridley, Roand Rance, Taji Mustapha, Shaykh Mohammed Saeed Bahmanpour, Daud Abdullah, Rabbi Ahron Cohen, Yousef el Helou, John Rees and others.  
Supporting
Organisations: Ahulbayt Islamic Mission, British Muslim Initiative, CAMPACC, FOSIS, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Friends of Lebanon, Islamic Forum of Europe, Innovative Minds, Islamic Centre of England, Islamic Human Rights Commission, Islamic Student Association UK, Jews Against Zionism, Muslim Association of Britain, Muslim Council of Britain, Neturei Karta, Palestine Return Centre, Respect Party and Stop the War Coalition.

This year, unity in support of the Palestinian struggle for freedom is stronger than ever, as campaigners and activists from all walks of life gather together.

The Al-Quds Day march and rally takes place every year.  Those who join it stand in support of the Palestinians and all oppressed peoples of the world.

The March has been met with counter demonstrations in the past two years. Last year a coalition of right wing white supremacist groups, Iranian communists and royalists, and various supporters of Zionism joined forces.  This year it has been threatened by various groups who have been active in previous weeks in targeting mosques and Muslims, creating violent confrontation in Luton and Birmingham.

Roland Rance of Jews Against Zionism stated:

“People of all faiths, and of none, should work together in support of the Palestinian people’s struggle against colonial oppression, and against the threat of racism and fascism in Britain”.

Massoud Shadjareh of Islamic Human Rights said in response to the decision by the Greater London Assembly to revoke its permission for use of Trafalgar Square for the rally due to fear of violence from right wing protestors:

“We must be concerned that such pressure is being exerted not just by fascists, but by the very authorities who should be upholding our right the protest and protecting marchers from intimidation and violence.

“Regardless of all the harassment and threats of violence, people from all walks of life, different faiths and beliefs will come together peacefully and stand together for justice for Palestine.”

For more information please contact the Press Office on (+44) 20 8904 4222 or

For comment, please call (+44) 7958 522 196 or (+44) 7903 053362,

For logistical information (+44) 7515 029560 email info@ihrc.org[ENDS]

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Forwarded by IHRC solely for informational purposes
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“And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75

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