Iranian activist Niyak Ghorbani was arrested by the London Metropolitan Police for holding a sign stating "Hamas is a terrorist organization" at a pro-Palestine demonstration. The arrest sparked controversy and debate over the actions of the police, with some accusing the Met of a two-tiered policing system that seemingly supports Islamist sentiments over freedom of speech. The UK, having officially designated Hamas as a terrorist organization in 2021, makes expressing support for Hamas an illegal act punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Despite this, the police arrested Ghorbani, who was protesting against Hamas, while nearby chants in support of Hamas went unchecked. This incident has led to calls for an inquiry into the Metropolitan Police's actions, described as "outrageous and disproportionate," and a public apology. Critics argue that the police's actions represent a capitulation to Islamist bigotry and a failure to enforce the law impartially. Ghorbani was later "de-arrested" after the police destroyed his sign.
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Sky News host Rita Panahi has criticised London police after a protester who called Hamas "terrorists” was arrested. https://t.co/otKcqaetV7
Insane: Watch British Police Arrest Peaceful Counter-Protester at Pro-Hamas Hate Rally https://t.co/voKdkjzljN
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'The police got it wrong.' Conservative MP, Tim Loughton, reacts to the arrest of a man at a pro-Palestine march, holding a sign stating that Hamas are terrorists. https://t.co/rfLuQI1Vqp
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Niyak Ghorbani was arrested while holding an anti-Hamas placard at a London pro-Palestinian protest on Saturday. Police later 'de-arrested' him after destroying his sign. ✍️@DanielleGreyman https://t.co/AXCv0NeWbR
Julia slams the Met Police after they ‘failed’ to arrest pro-Palestine protesters who ‘harassed’ a man carrying an anti-Hamas banner at a demonstration in London on Saturday. “I want to go in one of these marches and hold up a sign saying ‘Hamas are terrorists’.” @JuliaHB1 https://t.co/OAKDHfc4gz
The arrest of an anti-Hamas counter-protester shames the Metropolitan Police, says Fraser Myers https://t.co/VMNEiCNZDK
More evidence of two-tier policing by the @metpoliceuk. While @GhorbaniiNiyak was holding up a "Hamas are terrorist" a mob of Palestinian supporters celebrated Houthi terror attacks in the Red Sea on civilian ships. They also chants of "Yemen, do us proud" was met with the… https://t.co/eNyuVMYGKH
"Not only are the police failing to enforce the law, but they appear to be punishing those who are daring to point out what the law is." @jonnygould blasts the Met Police for arresting a man at the weekend who held up a sign saying Hamas is a terror organisation. https://t.co/9O8HlyvFsg
This is the full video. You can see with what speed and in what numbers the Met police turned on one individual who was publicly saying Hamas is a vile terrorist organization. Inquiry needed into this deeply troubling one-sided behaviour. @JamesCleverly https://t.co/UPkvF5m2t6
Met Police accused of 'emboldening' the mob after 'Hamas is terrorist' counter-protester arrested @RobertJenrick @JamesCleverly @CPhilpOfficial https://t.co/ttFuVGOeJN
A former Cabinet minister has accused the Metropolitan Police of “emboldening” the mob after a counter-protester carrying a sign saying “Hamas is terrorist” at a pro-Palestine rally was arrested https://t.co/z1EtQZcEuy
Iranian Activist Niyak Ghorbani was arrested by London police for holding an anti-Hamas sign and a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London. https://t.co/dWWLeEoEoc
The Met have turned London into a safe space for anti-Semites. Officers now arrest anti-Hamas activists. They tear down posters of kidnapped Israeli children. All to protect the feelings of deranged Islamists. They are appeasing hatred, says Fraser Myers https://t.co/VMNEiCNZDK
The arrest of an anti-Hamas protester is a new low for the Met. Police wrestled a man to the ground and arrested him after he dared to call Hamas a ‘terrorist’ group. This is a capitulation to Islamist bigotry, says Fraser Myers https://t.co/VMNEiCNZDK
Now the Met Police spark backlash by denying they arrested protester because he was holding an anti-Hamas sign - as campaigners blast force's 'outrageous and disproportionate' response at Palestine rally https://t.co/5GqTDwUCkN https://t.co/Sq3Cu09sSp
The Met faces calls for an inquiry and a public apology after a man was arrested for denouncing Hamas as terrorists, while nearby chants glorifying Houthi terror attacks went unchecked. https://t.co/AIdq4k97NM
'Two-tiered policing is empowering Islamists' Nana Akua rails at police for wrongfully arresting an anti-Hamas protester yesterday, and casts doubt on their 'flaky' reason for doing so. https://t.co/GdBEtFJSdc
Iranian activist arrested holding "Hamas is a terrorist organization" sign in London - is it just me or is this weird? #terrorism https://t.co/YSZ89BJX7S
UK 🇬🇧 officially designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation in 2021. Expressing support for Hamas is an illegal act punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Yesterday masses protested in support of Hamas, but the @metpoliceuk arrested @GhorbaniiNiyak instead 👇 https://t.co/8kj1XwPYEK
“This isn’t accurate,” says the Metropolitan police. Peter Cardwell reads out a statement from the Met, after a video went viral of Iranian man, Niyak Ghorbani, being arrested at a pro-Palestine protest in London on Saturday. @Petercardwell | #TalkTV
'This wasn't just a case of protecting his safety' Our panel say the 'aggressive manhandling' then arrest of an anti-Hamas protester was excessive. https://t.co/7KQsIh940F
Iranian freedom activist @GhorbaniiNiyak knows all too well the toll of unchecked fundamentalism and extremism, he has been fighting for his country for years. Yesterday, as the London police ignored chants for the genocide of Jews (‘context’), they’ve arrested him for… https://t.co/ye1GpxXnlE