Police Warn Protesters About Jihad Chants but Say Arrests Depend on ‘Context’

Police officers and protesters in Parliament Square during the 'March For Palestine' in London on Oct. 28, 2023 (Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images)

The Metropolitan Police has warned people protesting against Israel’s military actions in Gaza they are liable to arrest and prosecution if they use the phrase “jihad.”

But Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who will be the Met’s gold commander this weekend, said their response to the word jihad was always “contextual.”

On Saturday, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be holding another march through London and expect at least 100,000 people to turn up. It comes as Hamas prepares to hand over some of the hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire by Israel, which is also releasing some Palestinian prisoners.

Last month, a video circulated on social media—following a rally in London—in which members of the revolutionary Islamist party Hizb ut-Tahrir could be heard chanting “Jihad! Jihad!”

The commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, said at the time there were gaps in the law which prevented his officers from acting, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak responded by saying the police already had sufficient legal power “to arrest those who are inciting violence or racial hatred,” and added the government would work on clarifying guidance.

On Thursday, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall, KC, issued a report clarifying the position and saying those who chant “jihad” could be prosecuted under Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006, which criminalises statements that are likely to be understood as a direct or indirect encouragement or other inducement to the commission, preparation, or instigation of terrorist attacks.

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Mr. Hall said the section “very much applies to protests and marches” and “might well apply to a person who led chants for ‘jihad’ in the context of a march, especially if terrorist attacks had already been carried out in support of the speaker’s cause.”

Met Promises ‘Robust Intervention’

Speaking at a briefing for journalists on Friday, Mr. Adelekan said: “You will see robust intervention from our officers in the event of any criminal activity this weekend. There will be trained spotters at specific points on the march looking out for criminal activity, including hate placards, clothing and identifying those responsible.”

“We will also have officers who have been briefed on chants, including those which cross the line of the law,” he added.

Mr. Adelekan said: “This weekend will be the first time Hizb ut-Tahrir have held a protest since Oct. 21. At the time, there was considerable debate about the use of the word jihad. Nobody can fail to have I’ve seen the public reaction and the strength of feeling in the Jewish community in particular.”

“It is a word that clearly causes upset and concern, but it is always contextual. If we think people are chanting, if we think people are chanting this to incite violence, terrorism or anti-Semitism, we will act decisively and quickly,” he added.

Later, when asked by The Epoch Times if the police were wary of triggering riots if they immediately swooped on those chanting for jihad during a march, Mr. Adelekan said, “If anyone is committing a hate crime offence, chanting a word in a manner that is intimidating others, we will intervene very quickly and decisively whether they are in a crowd or not.”

‘Our Policy Is to Intervene Immediately’

“We have specialist teams that can go into crowds and effect arrest very quickly if we see an offence, we will intervene and arrest them. Our policy is to intervene immediately,” he added.

A journalist with the Jewish Chronicle then asked if the police would also arrest those who call for “Muslim armies to march on Palestine.”

Mr. Adelekan replied: “I can’t answer your question specifically ... but I have Arabic speakers out on the ground who are able to interpret what has been said, as I said, everything is contextual. I also have lawyers in the operations room working alongside me, and those officers on the ground have access to those lawyers as well.”

“So depending on what is being said, we will interpret very, very quickly and act decisively that much I can assure you. Anything that is intimidating, anything that is anti-Semitic, you can expect us to arrest people there and then,” he added.

In response to another question, Mr. Adelekan sought to reassure the capital’s Jewish community that they would be safe despite the presence in central London of at least 100,000 pro-Palestinian protesters.

‘It Is Safe for Jewish People to Come Into London’

Mr. Adelekan said: “We’ve got over 1,500 officers who are going to be keeping us safe. We’ve got a different number of tactics that we are using. We’ve got technology in place that we use, yes it is safe for Jewish people to come into London.”

His comments only hours after it was revealed a 55-year-old man had been arrested in connection with two incidents against a Jewish woman in north London.

Undated file photo of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, commonly known by his alias Tommy Robinson. (PA)

On Sunday, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is holding a rally in London and Mr. Adelekan, in response to another question from a reporter, confirmed the Met was aware anti-Islamic campaigner Tommy Robinson was due to attend.

Mr. Adelekan said, “What I do know is that, having spoken to the Campaign Against Antisemitism, Tommy Robinson is not welcome on the march on Sunday.”

He said he understood Mr. Robinson was intending to attend the rally “as a reporter,” and he said they had no intelligence to suggest there would be others accompanying him.

Mr. Adelekan said: “Our plan as ever is to engage with Tommy Robinson. What we cannot see and what we will not [let] happen is the kind of violence that happened on Nov. 11. We’ve got enough officers in order to make sure we prevent that from happening.”