An Islamic Human Rights Commission speaker will not face criminal prosecution for linking the Grenfell Tower tragedy to “Zionists” and calling for Israel’s annihilation at this year’s Al Quds Day march.
December 13, 2017 15:06
An Islamic Human Rights Commission speaker will not face criminal prosecution for linking the Grenfell Tower tragedy to “Zionists” and calling for Israel’s annihilation at this year’s Al Quds Day march.
The JC revealed in June how Nazim Hussein Ali had sparked fury after he used a loudspeaker to repeatedly make inflammatory remarks – including a claim he was “fed up” with Zionist rabbis and synagogues – during the annual anti-Israel demonstration in central London.
Following complaints about Mr Ali’s conduct – and the open display of flags of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah – the Metropolitan Police confirmed it was investigating allegations of antisemitic comments made during the protest by Mr Ali.
But Daniel Berke, of UK Lawyers for Israel, confirmed to the JC today that police had informed him that a decision had been made by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute Mr Ali.
Mr Berke, of 3d Regulatory Solicitors Limited, also said he would now be asking the CPS to review the decision.
He told the JC: “I am the lawyer instructed by two complainants who made statements to the police about the conduct of Nazim Ali at the Al Quds Parade in London on June 18.
“Yesterday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed to me that a decision has been reached by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute Mr Ali. I have not been given reasons.
“We will be asking the CPS to review their decision pursuant to their ‘Victims’ Right to Review’ scheme.”
Mark Gardner, director of communications for the Community Security Trust, said: "CST provided the CPS with the transcript of these disgusting remarks and would have stood witness in the event of a trial.
"We have been in communication with the CPS, expressing our extreme disappointment and we now await a full and final decision from them."
Mr Ali, who is managing partner of a private health clinic, told the rally: “As we know in Grenfell, many innocents were murdered by Theresa May’s cronies, many of which are supporters of Zionist ideology.”
In video footage posted online, Mr Ali continued: “Let us not forget that some of the biggest corporations who were supporting the Conservative Party are Zionists. They are responsible for the murder of the people in Grenfell, in those towers in Grenfell, the Zionist supporters of the Tory Party.”
He adds: “It is the Zionists who give money to the Tory party, to kill people in high rise blocks.... Careful, careful, careful of those rabbis who belong to the Board of Deputies, who have got blood on their hands.”
The Community Security Trust had condemned Mr Ali’s comments linking Zionism to the Grenfell Towers fire as “grotesque”.
Lord Polak, Conservative Friends of Israel president, wrote to Amber Rudd, Home Secretary, to express concern over the Hezbollah flag at the march and called on the Met to charge those found in “direct contravention” of Section 13 of the Terrorism Act (2000).
The Al Quds Day march is held annually on the last Friday of Ramadan.
The JC has confirmed Mr Ali will not be charged under incitement or religious hatred legislation.
A CPS spokesman added: "We are still considering a charging decision on this matter.”
