Local activists celebrate as a Muslim-led effort to raise a Palestinian flag over Rochdale Town Hall succeeded, with the flag being raised on the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The initiative was spearheaded by local Palestinian activist Ikram Alattar of the Palestine Rochdale Community Group (PRCG).
Speaking at the ceremony, Alattar said: “We are grateful for Rochdale’s tradition of inclusivity as seen in past support for various communities. We believe that by raising the Palestine flag we can inspire unity and underscore our shared commitment to peace, harmony, and mutual respect. We also wanted a day of hope to recognise and reflect on the suffering of people in Gaza.”
Alattar, a student at the University of Manchester, formed the Palestine Rochdale Community Group and was in Gaza with her family days before the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 prompted the latest hostilities in the region.
The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Shakil Ahmed, the chief executive of the council, Steve Rumbelow, Alattar and other community representatives attended the event.
Also speaking at the event, Imam Qari Sahl Zaid, praised the local Muslim community efforts to make the flag raising a reality.
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“Thank you to our councillors, our mayor, your steadfast support for this cause, by Allah, has not gone unnoticed. Thank you to Rochdale Council of Mosques only Allah truly knows the immense work you do behind the scenes. May He, the Most Just, reward you in ways that none of us can.”
The UN’s Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is internationally recognised and has taken place since 1977.
In October 2023 the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the 10 Greater Manchester councils, including Rochdale, joined international calls for a ceasefire.
In December 2023 Rochdale Borough Council voted to call for a permanent and multilateral ceasefire in Gaza, the cessation of the current hostilities, the release of all hostages, access to humanitarian aid and a lasting peace.
Allegations and controversy
Shortly after the flag raising ceremony ended, a second larger gathering was held headed by the former MP for Rochdale, George Galloway, and his supporters.
Galloway praised the flag raising as a “historic” occasion and urged the local community to keep the flag flying in Rochdale.
“Rochdale is an English town but now also a Palestinian town and it will be remembered as such .. this must be the flag of the Palestinian State and it must fly forever here in the Town Hall of Rochdale.”
Galloway also used his speech to slam the Labour-led Rochdale Council who he accused of trying to “wreck” the ceremony by raising an Israeli flag alongside the Palestinian colours.
“Palestinian support in this town have been cheated today. You missed the Palestinian ceremony and you were intended to miss the ceremony today bringing to a dismal end weeks of wrecking tactics by the Labour council here… The penultimate move by the Labour council here to wreck this event was to suggest that the Israeli flag should be raised alongside the Palestinian flag here at this event.”
Galloway added: “Luckily wiser counsel prevailed because the atmosphere here today would have been very different if these idiots had tried to do that.”
5Pillars understands that the original plan for the Rochdale Town Hall flag raising ceremony was due to start at 10am, November 29.
However, according to local activists involved in the planning, a last minute decision was taken to conduct the ceremony an hour earlier at 9am.
It remains unclear exactly why the time was change occurred or if Galloway’s claims regarding the Labour council and the Israeli flag suggestion are accurate.
