Braverman to challenge Met chief after jihad chants allowed at rally

A Palestinian supporter lights a fire at a solidarity demonstration in Whitehall. Photo: Stephen Chang/LNP

Swella Braverman will challenge the Metropolitan Police Commissioner over officers' decision to allow jihad chants at a pro-Palestinian rally, insisting there is «no place for incitement to hatred or violence» on UK streets.

After analyzing the online video, the Met said jihad had «multiple meanings» and concluded there was no wrongdoing.

On Sunday, a source close to Ms Braverman called on police to do more. to “open up and prosecute everyone who breaks the law.”

“The Home Secretary is already due to meet with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to discuss the ongoing protests in Israel and the Gaza Strip, and will ask for an explanation of the response to the incidents that took place on Saturday,” the source said.

“On There is no place for incitement to hatred or violence on Britain's streets and, as the Home Secretary has made clear, the police are called upon to prosecute anyone who breaks the law.»

The comments came after Robert Jenrick, the immigration secretary, reprimanded the Met for its response to «completely reprehensible» behaviour, saying the chants were «inciting terrorist violence» and should be dealt with «the full force of the law».

On Sunday it also emerged that the Met had recommended that a pro-Israel prayer rally in a Jewish area of ​​London be canceled because it was taking place on the same day as a pro-Palestinian march and participants could be «injured or intimidated».

Sunday in the evening, a counter-terrorism expert accused the government of failing to act on previous warnings that gaps in the law were allowing people to shout «jihad» during protests.

Neil Basu, former head of the National Police Chiefs' Council for the fight terrorism, said the issue was raised as part of a report written by Sir Mark in 2021, shortly before he took charge of the Met.

< p>The report warns of a «yawning chasm» in laws allowing «extremists to operate with impunity» and says the nature and scale of extremist activity that is currently legal in the UK is «shocking and dangerous».

It says only some extremist activity is covered by the law, including incitement to hate crime under sections 3 and 3A of the Public Order Act 1986, and parts of the Terrorism Act 2006 and the Terrorism Act 2000 , which prohibit the dissemination of terrorist publications for the purpose of committing, preparing or inciting terrorist acts.

The report says these gaps mean that under current law, praising Hitler, denying the Holocaust, praising Osama bin Laden or far-right killers such as Anders Breivik are legal as long as the material does not directly encourage violence.

He warned that the glorification of terrorism is lawful, provided that encouraging the commission, preparation or incitement of terrorist acts or related offenses is avoided, as is the lawful deliberate incitement of racial hatred where threats, insults or insults are lawful. avoid.

Sir Mark's report calls for a new «hateful extremism» law under which one group targets another to «promote a political, religious or racial ideology of superiority» and wants to «create a climate conducive to hate crimes, terrorism or other violence.»

Demonstrators gathered in London in solidarity with Palestine. Photo: Shutterstock

On Sunday, Mr Basu told the government: “Your eyes have been opened to a glaring anomaly in the law. You did not deal with this issue then, and it is worth returning to it.

“Therefore, the attacks of the government and ministers on the Metropolitan are unjustified. The police need support during these difficult times. If the government doesn't like the law, it can change it, as it was asked to do.»

At a pro-Palestinian rally on Saturday organized by Hizb ut-Tahrir, members of the extremist group Islamic Group hung a banner with the slogan “Muslim armies! Save the people of Palestine.”

In one of the videos, a speaker asks the crowd: “What is the way to free the people in the concentration camp called Palestine?” In response, several men can be heard chanting: “Jihad, jihad, jihad.”

Commenting on Twitter on Saturday, the Met said: “The word jihad has several meanings, but we know that the public most often associates it with terrorism.”

Counter-terrorism officers said. assessed the video and «did not identify any wrongdoing associated with the specific clip.» However, it added that officers would speak to the speaker to dissuade him from chanting in the future.

Palestinian protesters march in Piccadilly Circus October 21. Photo: Getty Images Europe

A spokesman for the Public Safety Foundation, which defends Jews in Britain, said the Met's response gave the impression of «legitimizing abhorrent and hateful behavior which may or may not be criminal but is nonetheless deeply troubling to British Jews and many others.»

Lord Blunkett, a former Labor minister, said: “Police have warned they will intervene if such allegations are made. If you issue a warning of this nature, it is vital that you take action against anyone who commits incitement, abuse and hatred.»

The Met has also been criticized for covering incidents that may have been illegal, despite doing nothing to arrest those involved on the day of the rally.

In one case, men were filmed chanting in Arabic: «Curse of God on the Jews.» An hour after the video was posted, the Met retweeted it, saying the actions «amount to a hate crime» and that officers were «actively working to establish the identities of those depicted in the video.»

Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News Sunday Morning, Mr Jenrick said: “The 'jihad' everywhere on the streets of London is completely reprehensible and something I never want to see similar scenes.» . This incites terrorist violence and must be fought with the full force of the law.»

He said it was ultimately up to police and prosecutors to bring charges, but said there was a «broader issue.» » in a game about «British values.»

«There must be a consensus in this country that chanting things like «jihad» is completely reprehensible and wrong, and we never want to see that in our country.» » he said. Speaking to Times Radio, he added: «I think a lot of people will be surprised by the Metropolitan Police's analysis of this issue and that's something we're going to be discussing with the police.»