Headlines
UK police ban pro-Iranian London March due to 'extreme tensions'
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 11, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 11, 2026
Quick Summary
UK police have imposed a rare ban on the annual Al Quds march in central London—first such use of the power since 2012—citing severe risks of violent confrontation amid heightened threats from Iranian state-linked activities and regional tensions.
UK Police Ban Annual Pro-Iranian Al Quds March in London Over Security Concerns
Police Decision and Security Context
By Sarah Young
Background of the Al Quds March
LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - British police said they had banned a pro-Iranian march due to take place in London on Sunday, citing the possibility of "extreme tensions" with counter-protesters and the risk posed by Tehran during the conflict in the Middle East.
The Al Quds march in central London is organised annually by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, which the police said was supportive of the Iranian regime.
Legal Threshold for Protest Bans
The threshold to ban a protest is high in Britain, with the police saying this was the first time the power had been invoked in 14 years, but the risks of public disorder were "so severe" it was right to block it. The ban also applies to any counter-protest marches.
Purpose of the March
The Islamic Human Rights Commission has previously said on X that the march was being held in support of Palestinian liberation.
Security Risks and Police Response
Previous Incidents and Hate Crimes
Police said that previous Al Quds marches have resulted in arrests for supporting terrorist organisations and anti-Semitic hate crimes, and said that even with the ban in place they were facing a "challenging, potentially violent weekend".
Middle East Conflict and Domestic Threats
"We have taken into consideration the likely impact on protests of the volatile situation in the Middle East, with the Iranian regime attacking British allies and military bases overseas," the police statement published late on Tuesday said.
"We must also consider that the security services have been publicly clear about the threats we are facing on UK soil from the Iranian regime."
Recent Surveillance Arrests
British police have faced heavy scrutiny of their handling of regular, large pro-Palestinian protests in London since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel, with supporters and opponents at odds over the right of free speech, the support shown for a proscribed group and the impact on the Jewish community.
Last week, British police arrested four men on suspicion of helping Iran's intelligence services carry out surveillance of people and locations linked to the Jewish community in London.
Potential for Static Assembly
Should the Islamic Human Rights Commission go ahead with a static assembly, which there is no law to ban, police said it would be placed under strict conditions.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Kate Holton)
Key Takeaways
- •The Metropolitan Police, with Home Secretary approval, banned the Al Quds march scheduled for March 15, citing an extraordinary risk of public disorder from both protest and counter‑protest activity; it’s the first use of this power since 2012 (news.met.police.uk).
- •The Islamic Human Rights Commission, the march organiser, is deemed supportive of the Iranian regime, and past marches have led to arrests for terrorism‑related offences and antisemitic hate incidents (news.met.police.uk).
- •UK security agencies have foiled over 20 Iran‑state‑backed plots since 2022 and warned of increasingly unpredictable threats from Iran—including espionage, cyber‑attacks, and potential violence—as regional conflict heightens (news.met.police.uk).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about UK police ban pro-Iranian London march due to 'extreme tensions'
1Why did UK police ban the pro-Iranian march in London?
Police cited extreme tensions with counter-protesters and elevated risks due to the volatile Middle East situation as reasons for the ban.
2What is the Al Quds march?
The Al Quds march is an annual event in London organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, reportedly in support of Palestinian liberation.
3Has a protest ban like this happened before in the UK?
According to police, this is the first time in 14 years that such a power has been invoked to ban a protest.
4What security concerns did police mention?
Police referred to the threat from the Iranian regime and past incidents of arrests for supporting terrorist organizations and anti-Semitic crimes during previous marches.
5Will gatherings still be allowed despite the ban?
A static assembly may proceed as there is no law to ban such events, but police will impose strict conditions.
