𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Three pro-Palestine protesters have been charged after allegedly calling for an “intifada” during chants.

Abdallah Alanzi, 38, Haya Adam, 21, Azza Zaki, 60, will all appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, February 23, after being arrested outside the Ministry of Justice building in Petty France, Westminster, during a rally in December.

It comes after Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley warned the Met will crack down on those using the phrase.

All three men were charged with “using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour intending thereby to stir up racial hatred or, having regard to all the circumstances, whereby racial hatred was likely to be stirred up”.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police Service as they carried out their investigation.

“We remind all concerned that proceedings against these defendant are active and that they have the right to a fair trial.

“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Sir Mark Rowley, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and Stephen Watson, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, warned “words and chants” have “real world consequences”.

They warned, in a rare joint letter, that prosecutors have repeatedly claimed many phrases “causing fear in Jewish communities don’t meet prosecution thresholds”.

The Bondi Beach atrocity, in which two Islamist terrorists targeted a Hanukkah celebration and killed 15 people, has prompted renewed anger over chants on pro-Palestine marches and the fear the hatred and vitriol creates.

Sir Mark and Mr Watson said: “The two recent terror attacks targeting Jews, the increased fear in Jewish communities, and high number of terrorist attacks disrupted in recent years requires an enhanced response.

“We know communities are concerned about placards and chants such as ‘globalise the intifada’ and those using it at future protest or in a targeted way should expect the Met and GMP to take action.

“Current laws are inadequate, and we welcome the fact that the Home Secretary has asked Lord Ken Macdonald KC to review the current public order and hate crime legislation.

“The words and chants used, especially in protests, matter and have real world consequences.

“We have consistently been advised by the CPS that many of the phrases causing fear in Jewish communities don’t meet prosecution thresholds.

“Now, in the escalating threat context, we will recalibrate to be more assertive.”

Sir Keir Starmer and senior ministers have said protesters’ slogans such as “globalise the intifada” and “from the river to the sea” amount to a call for attacks on Jewish people.