Arrests at Banned Pro-Iran Protest in London
British authorities prohibited the annual march after police concluded it had been organized by a group supportive of the Iranian regime. Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood said the decision to block the procession was taken to prevent serious public disorder amid the ongoing regional war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in central London on Sunday for an al Quds Day protest that had been formally banned by the British government, prompting arrests and a heavy police presence in the city.
British authorities prohibited the annual march after police concluded it had been organized by a group supportive of the Iranian regime. Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood said the decision to block the procession was taken to prevent serious public disorder amid the ongoing regional war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Despite the ban on a marching rally, authorities permitted a stationary demonstration. Around 1,000 police officers were deployed to manage the event and prevent clashes between opposing groups.
Police directed pro Palestinian and anti Israel demonstrators to gather on the south side of the River Thames, while counter demonstrators assembled across the river closer to Parliament. The arrangement was designed to keep the two groups physically separated.
Participants in the protest waved Palestinian flags and carried signs accusing Israel of war crimes during its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza following the October 7 attack.
Some protesters also displayed images of Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and carried Iranian flags, reflecting the event’s traditional alignment with Iran’s annual al Quds Day demonstrations.
Police said 12 people were arrested during the event. The arrests included allegations of supporting a banned organization, threatening or abusive behavior, and involvement in public disorder.
Authorities are also reviewing chants delivered during speeches at the rally. Videos circulating online showed demonstrators shouting “Death to the IDF,” a chant that police said is under investigation.
Metropolitan Police officials acknowledged that such rhetoric had raised concern within London’s Jewish community.
The rally was organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, which criticized the government’s decision to ban the march and described the event as an international demonstration supporting Palestinians and other oppressed groups.
Across the river, counter protesters waved Israeli and American flags alongside the old Lion and Sun flag used by Iranian opposition supporters. Some participants voiced support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
The protest marked the first time a march in London had been banned since 2012, highlighting the heightened tensions surrounding demonstrations linked to the Middle East conflict.