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Monday, 4 July 2011

Brent Council Ban on Palestine Day 2011 Unnecessary

Brent Palestine Solidarity Campaign along with many other human rights and community groups is concerned that Sheikh Raed Salah has been detained without any solid evidence. Sheikh Raed Salah is the leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, the largest movement for Palestinians in Israel. This is a legitimate organisation which Israel has never moved to ban. Raed Saleh regularly speaks at venues across Israel where he has considerable support amongst the Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up a fifth of the population.

Sheikh Raed has been elected as mayor of his hometown Um al-Fahm three times. He has never been convicted of anti-Semitism in Israel. None of the organisations that invited him to speak at meetings publicised well in advance had been approached by the Home Office to express their concerns.

His proposed appearance at Brent Town Hall on Saturday July 2nd was sponsored by Human Appeal International, a 20 year old charity, as one of their Palestine Day 2011  events which included lectures, music, a bazaar,  and a presentation to the family of  human rights activist Vittorio Arrigoni. We believe the cancellation of the entire event by Brent Council was unnecessary and undermines free speech and diversity.

NOTES
Letter signed by many organisations HERE
Human Appeal International LINK

Martin Francis
Chair, Brent PSC

Liz Lindsay

Secretary, Brent PSC

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