2011 June 30: UK GOVERNMENT “SILENCING DISSENT” SAY PALESTINE GROUPS

Thursday 30 June 2011

Friends of Al Aqsa Scotland & Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign: Joint Media Release

UK GOVERNMENT “SILENCING DISSENT” SAY PALESTINE GROUPS

Scots pro-Palestine groups have accused the UK Government of “silencing dissent” over the arrest of a prominent Palestinian Israeli here on a UK speaking tour.

Sheikh Raed Salah had been due to address MPs and members of the public at a House of Commons meeting yesterday, but was arrested by immigration officials late on Tuesday night. It is understood that the Home Secretary, Theresa May, had ordered his exclusion before his arrival in the UK last Saturday but had failed to inform him.

A joint statement by Scots groups, Friends of Al Aqsa, and the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, criticised the Home Secretary: “Sheikh Raed Salah is a leading defender of Palestinian rights both within Israel, where he is part of the 20% Palestinian population, and in the Occupied Territories.

“Although the Israeli authorities make his life very difficult, frequently jailing him, they have yet to remove his freedom of speech. His exclusion by the UK government is, however, a clear infringement of his freedom of expression, and an attempt to silence dissent and criticism of their Israeli allies.”

ENDS

Notes for editors:

1. The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign started in autumn 2000 in response to the Palestinian second uprising against Israeli occupation (Intifada). The SPSC has branches around Scotland.

For further information, contact:
SPSC Chair, Mick Napier: 0131 620 0052; 07958002591

Email: media@scottishpsc.org.uk (default reply to this email)
Website: www.scottishpsc.org.uk

2. Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA)is a UK based non-profit making NGO concerned with defending the human rights of Palestinians and protecting the sacred al-Aqsa Sanctuary in Jerusalem. Friends of Al-Aqsa was first established in 1997 and now has an international support base.

Website: www.foa.org.uk/

3. See “Leading Palestinian activist arrested in London”

The Guardian, Wednesday 29 June 2011

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/29/sheikh-raed-salah-arrest-london?intcmp=239

4. Shaikh Raed Salah is the Head of the Islamic Movement in Israel. A profile can be accessed here:

http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/resources/fact-sheets/1082-shaikh-raed-salah