Overview
- Shabana Mahmood approved the Metropolitan Police request to prohibit Sunday’s Al‑Quds Day procession, citing the risk of serious public disorder linked to the scale of the event and planned counter‑protests.
- The Met said the march presents unique risks, referencing high expected turnouts, extreme factional tensions, security service warnings about Iranian state activity, and recent counter‑terrorism arrests.
- The ban, in force from March 11 to April 11, is the first on a London protest march since 2012 and applies to the procession and related counter‑protests, with arrests possible for those organising or joining a banned march.
- Organiser IHRC condemned the decision as politically driven, said it is seeking legal advice, and confirmed a static protest will go ahead, which police cannot ban but will subject to strict conditions.
- Police said central London will see an intensified public‑order operation this weekend and warned of a challenging, potentially violent environment despite the procession ban.