A huge celebration of Palestinian history and culture will go ahead in London on July 8-9 despite attempts to get it shut down.
The organisers of Palestine Expo at the QE2 Centre, which will include political discussions, concerts, comedy acts, workshops, a food court and other events, have confirmed that the Department for Communities and Local Government have given the event the green light.
Friends of Al Aqsa said: “We are pleased to announce the Department of Community of Local Government (DCLG) has confirmed Palestine Expo can take place at the Queen Elizabeth Centre on 8-9 July. We thank all our supporters for their assistance and look forward to welcoming you at the Queen Elizabeth Centre.”
According to The Guardian, the government department which is responsible for the QE2 Centre wrote to the organisers on June 14 saying the secretary of state, Sajid Javid, was minded to terminate the contract. The letter cited “concerns that your organisation and those connected with it have expressed public support for a proscribed organisation, namely Hamas, and that you have supported events at which Hamas and Hizballah – also proscribed – have been praised”.
Friends of Al-Aqsa wrote to the department complaining about the proposed ban. Ismail Patel, founder of Friends of Al-Aqsa, said the department was unlawfully interfering in the event. “They have failed to provide any satisfactory reason as to why they have chosen to cancel an event which seeks to celebrate Palestinian culture and heritage,” he said. He accused the department of acting on hearsay from a pro-Israeli lobby group.
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