On Sunday 3 July, flags of terrorist group, Hezbollah, were paraded through the streets of London.

Reports say “several thousand” made their way from the BBC, past Oxford Street and towards the U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square, to mark the now traditional end of Ramadan Quds day protest against Israel. The annual march was countered by a pro-Israel rally for the first time ever.

The yellow Hezbollah flag was repeatedly seen, either raised as a standard or worn as clothing garments, after organisers refused to advise protesters against it, suggesting that it was “not unlawful”. According to Jewish News, no arrests were made.

While the military wing of Hezbollah is listed as a terrorist group, the political wing is not. However it is widely recognised that they are one and the same thing, controlled by a single command structure. and sharing the same flag. It is this loophole that supporters of Hezbollah use to justify their use of the flag.

Hezbollah’s Jihad council, its political council, its executive council and its judicial council all report to its Shura council. The United States and the Netherlands have already banned both the military and political wings of Hezbollah. Earlier this year, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab League, and the Arab Parliament, have also proscribed all of Hezbollah’s operations.

Hezbollah operates terrorist cells in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America and it has a long record of attacking Israeli and Jewish targets around the world. It is a Shia Islamist militant group and political party also known as the “Party of God”; it doesn’t recognise the State of Israel and aims to establish an Islamic government across the Arab world that will “liberate” Jerusalem. In November 2015 it was reported that Hezbollah had amassed a stockpile of 150,000 rockets, including missiles capable of striking every major Israeli city.

We believe that the flag of Hezbollah should not be allowed to fly on the streets of London. Furthermore, we believe that the Metropolitan police should take appropriate action. Finally, we call upon the UK Home Office to place a complete ban on the flag being paraded in the future.

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Dear Rt Hon Theresa May,

On Sunday 3 July, flags of terrorist group, Hezbollah, were paraded through the streets of London during the Quds Day march. Whilst I recognise freedom exists to participate in the march, the yellow Hezbollah flag was repeatedly seen, either raised as a standard or worn as clothing garments, after organisers refused to advise protesters against it, suggesting that it was “not unlawful”.

As a supporter of CUFI, I am writing with concern as I understand it had been previously suggested by the Home Office that such acts would fall under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. When two men who flew Hezbollah flags during Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the UK last year were subsequently arrested under this law, it appeared to signal a change in direction.

As you will be aware, while the military wing of Hezbollah is listed as a terrorist group, the political wing is not. However it is widely recognised that they are one and the same thing, controlled by a single command structure and sharing the same flag.

The United States and the Netherlands have already banned both the military and political wings of Hezbollah. Earlier this year, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab League, and the Arab Parliament, have also proscribed all of Hezbollah’s operations.

Can you please give assurance that appropriate action is being taken by Metropolitan Police in regards to the parading of the Hezbollah flag on Sunday. Furthermore, I call upon the UK Home Office to proscribe the political wing of Hezbollah and ban the flag being paraded in the future.

Thank you for your time. Your attention to this matter is appreciated.