Speaker cheered as he calls for ‘world to be de-Zionised’ at London pro-Palestine demo
Mohammed el-Kurd, a Palestinian writer and poet, is an official speaker at latest PSC-organised protest in London and urges attendees to 'root Zionism out of the world'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
An official speaker on the latest pro-Palestine demonstration in London has been cheered loudly as he called for the world to be “de-Zionised”.
Mohammed el-Kurd, a Palestinian writer and poet who spoke from the stage at Saturday’s protest, added: “We must root Zionism out of the world.”
Meanwhile, Labour MP Apsana Begum also spoke, telling the crowd: “The UK’s launching of airstrikes in the Red Sea, in conjunction with the US. It is horrifying. It’s shameful. It’s deplorable.”
Posting himself later on X/Twitter, el-Kurd said he was aware the content of his speech had been reported to the Metropolitan Police after he told those attending the march: “We must reject Zionism in all of our institutions because to be anti-racist is to be anti-Zionist.”
He continued: “Zionism is apartheid, it’s genocide, it’s murder, it’s a racist ideology. And we must root it out of the world. We must be de-Zionised because Zionism is a death cult. Zionism is indefensible.”
"We must de-Zionised because Zionism is a death cult, Zionism is indefensible!"
Palestinian writer Mohammed El Kurd's passionate speech attacking Zionism at today's London demo for Gaza.@m7mdkurd #CEASEFIRE_NOW pic.twitter.com/zv2V8eKUrB
— 5Pillars (@5Pillarsuk) January 13, 2024
Later in his speech, el-Kurd proceeded to read out a message he said had been sent by “a group called Gaza Group.”
He said they argued that to “stand on the right side of history you must engage with tangible actions, not mere words” and added “language no longer suffices.”
“Our day will come,” el-Kurd then added. He later appeared to mispronounce a sentence as he urged the crowd to “normalise massacres as the status quo.”
A transcript on the 5 Pillars website added the word “not” ahead of “normalise”.
Jeremy Corbyn addressed the crowd as did the Labour MP Zarah Sultana, who was also joined by John McDonnell.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign had earlier promoted el-Kurd as a speaker at their latest demo in London, which was attended by around 150,000. PSC director Ben Jamal was seen up on the stage watching as el-Kurd called for the world to be “de-Zionised.”
His words were later also promoted online by the controversial Islamist 5 Pillars website, with subtitles.
Saturday’s march had also seen pockets of support for the Houthi movement with some Yemeni flags were spotted on the march.
Social media footage showed some activists chanting:””Yemen Yemen make us proud turn another ship around.”
Other placards read “Hands off Yemen”.
Another placard read: “UK + US wants war. Yemen supports Palestine. Gaza wants to live.”
Security minister Tom Tugendhat later said: “It’s extraordinary to watch young men and women – who I’m sure would tell you they believe in freedom and equality – supporting groups like the Houthis who have reintroduced slavery, and systematically violate the rights of women and girls.”
The chanting for Yemen is all across the demonstration
"Yemen Yemen make us proud turn another ship around" pic.twitter.com/wQ296sUPif
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) January 13, 2024
Nine arrests were made – for alleged offences including inciting racial hatred, a suspected racially aggravated public order offence, and on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation.
Around 1,700 officers were planned to attend the event, with the Met saying officers from forces outside London were brought in.
Jewish News has contacted the Met Police over el-Kurd’s speech.
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