British Police Ban ‘Walk With Jesus’ March In Muslim Area Of London

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

LONDON (Worthy News) – British police have banned a “Walk with Jesus” march through a predominantly Muslim part of London, citing concerns it could lead to “violence and serious disorder.”

The event, planned for January 31, was organized by the right-wing populist UK Independence Party (UKIP), which has expressed concern about what it views as the “Islamization” of Britain, linking it to mass migration from mainly Muslim nations.

UKIP promoted the “Walk with Jesus” as a Christian-themed march, inviting participants “to worship Jesus Christ” during January, which organizers called “the month dedicated to the holy name of Jesus.”

Yet the Metropolitan Police said it did not want the march to proceed through the planned area of Whitechapel on public-order grounds.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman stressed that, “We are not saying that the UKIP protest, in isolation, will be disorderly.”

POLICE WARN OF VIOLENCE AND SERIOUS DISORDER

However, “We do know that many will find it provocative and that provocation is likely to lead to an adverse local reaction,” Harman added.

Harman said police “reasonably believe, based on the information available and on previous similar incidents, that the coming together of the UKIP protest with opposing groups who are hostile to its presence would be highly likely to lead to violence and serious disorder.”

The march was due to take place in the historic inner-city district of Whitechapel, in the London borough of Tower Hamlets. “Join our parade in Whitechapel worshipping Jesus Christ on January 31,” an advertisement read.

It is the second time police have intervened after a planned UKIP march in the area last October was forced to relocate to central London.

That earlier planned march prompted groups of mostly men, many masked and wearing black clothing, to stage a counter-demonstration pledging to “defend their community.”

PREVIOUS PROTEST SPARKED COMMUNITY TENSIONS

Chants of “We will honour all our martyrs” and “Allahu akbar” (“Allah is greatest”) could be heard, as well as “Zionist scum off our streets,” prompting concern among members of the Jewish community.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage — a founding member and former leader of UKIP — responded at the time by calling the scenes “one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen in my whole life,” accusing police of “caving in to Islamists.”

Police acknowledged that this was the second time they had used powers under the Public Order Act to restrict a UKIP rally in the area.

“It would be reckless to allow an event to go ahead when we understand there’s a risk of serious violence to members of the community and to our officers,” Harman stressed.

“We are not doing so on the grounds of politics… We are doing so solely on our risk assessment for serious disorder,” he added.

UKIP MARCH MAY STILL TAKE PLACE ELSEWHERE

Harman clarified that the “UKIP protest can still take place elsewhere as it did last time.”

The Tower Hamlets Palestine Solidarity Network responded on social media, saying the borough has a “long and proud history of standing up to fascism.”

“We thank the Mayor, the Council, and our faith and community leaders for putting pressure on the police to protect our borough,” the network said.

Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman said he had met with local faith leaders, “including many Christian friends of all denominations,” to “discuss how we prepare for UKIP’s latest planned march.”

“We are united, and will never be divided by their hate,” he said.

DEBATE CONTINUES OVER FAITH AND PUBLIC LIFE

“Our conversation this evening focused on what brings us all together — love, respect, and understanding for our borough,” Rahman added.

“As in the past, our council will work with the police and key stakeholders to ensure that there is no place for hate in Tower Hamlets.”

Yet the banning of the “Walk with Jesus” march in Muslim areas of London has added to concern among critics about the growing influence of Islam in Britain and other parts of Europe.

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