Home Secretary bans London Al Quds march for one month

The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has approved a Metropolitan Police request to ban Sunday’s Al Quds Day march in London on public order grounds. Police say a stationary demonstration could still proceed under strict conditions. It is a significant intervention in how protests are managed in the capital. (theguardian.com)

Let’s clear up the big question first: what’s actually been banned? A ban like this stops a moving procession (a march). It does not stop a static protest on public land, although police can set conditions on where it is held, how long it lasts and how many people can attend. That’s why a rally in one place may still go ahead. (gov.uk)

The legal tool behind the decision is section 13 of the Public Order Act 1986. In London, the Met Commissioner can prohibit processions for a set period if they reasonably believe normal protest conditions won’t prevent serious public disorder-and the Home Secretary must consent. Orders can last for up to three months. (legislation.gov.uk)

What exactly is in place now? The Met says the ban covers the Al Quds march and any associated counter‑protest marches for one month, starting 16:00 on Wednesday 11 March 2026. The force stresses the power is used sparingly and says this is its first use since 2012. (news.met.police.uk)

Organisers take a different view. The Islamic Human Rights Commission argues Al Quds is a pro‑Palestinian event, says it will hold a static protest instead, and has indicated it is seeking legal advice. Spokesperson Faisal Bodi told BBC Radio 4 it was “a sad day for freedom of expression”. (ihrc.org.uk)

So, what is Al Quds Day? The IHRC describes it as the first international demonstration set up to support Palestinians and “all the oppressed around the world”. News outlets also explain it as an annual day of solidarity with Palestinians, initiated in Iran in 1979 and now marked in many countries. (ihrc.org.uk)

How are protests usually handled? Most of the time, police don’t ban events-they apply conditions. Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act allow restrictions on route, timing, location and size to prevent serious disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community. (gov.uk)

Recent Home Office statistics give helpful context. Between June 2022 and March 2025, police used these powers to apply conditions to 640 protests-465 processions and 175 assemblies-with the Met accounting for 570 of those uses. Bans under section 13 are far rarer. (gov.uk)

How rare is “rare”? The last London‑area bans under section 13 were during English Defence League events in 2011–2012, when 30‑day orders covered several boroughs. That official record helps explain why this week’s move is notable. (gov.uk)

Safety and hate speech remain part of the policing picture. The Met says it will use the law robustly at any static rally. Previous Al Quds events have seen arrests, including for racial hatred in 2024, which adds to police risk assessments alongside planned counter‑protests. (news.met.police.uk)

Your rights still matter. Under the Human Rights Act, Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights protect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Any restriction must be lawful, necessary and proportionate-a test that applies to police decisions, ministerial consent and any later court scrutiny. (publications.parliament.uk)

Planning to attend? Read the police conditions carefully and stick to the designated static site if you go. Know that breaching a known condition can be an offence-and knowingly organising or joining a prohibited march under section 13 is an offence too. If you’re teaching this, compare the Met’s statement with organisers’ materials, then check what section 13 and section 14 actually say; it’s a practical exercise in media literacy and public law. (legislation.gov.uk)