British Muslims demand clarification from Labour leader after Iftar cancellation

Friends of Al Aqsa and other Muslim organisations have issued a petition demanding a clarification from UK’s Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, after withdrawing from a virtual Ramadan interfaith event on Wednesday with Muslims during Ramadan.

The petition accuses the Labour leader of double standards after he bowed to pressure from The Jewish Chronicle which shared a tweet by an organiser of the iftar calling for a boycott dates from Israel.

We demand a clarification from the Labour leader @Keir_Starmer as to why he is undermining Muslims and anyone else who is seeking justice and redress for the Palestinian people.

Please sign the petition: https://t.co/IQ96NkVON8

— Friends of Al Aqsa (@FriendsofAlAqsa) April 24, 2021

“It is reported that this happened because the Jewish Chronicle and Mr Ofer of the Jewish Board of Deputies “highlighted a tweet” shared by an organiser of the iftar, to boycott dates from Israel,” said the organisations in the petition.

“The fast in Ramadan is traditionally first broken with dates, which has ritual significance for Muslims. It is important that these dates are ethically sourced,” the petition stated.

Since Israel’s settlements are designated illegal under international law, the boycott of their goods is widely recognised as a legitimate form of activism.

Founder and CEO of the Cordoba Foundation, Dr Anas Altikriti, deplored the Labour leader’s action saying “rather than uphold international law and support the stand of two thirds of his own party members,” Starmer chose to pull out of the Iftar event.

Signatories to the petition also accuse Starmer of undermining Muslims and anyone else who is seeking justice and redress for the Palestinian people.

“It is the double standards of the Labour leader that are deeply disappointing. Over 60% of Labour Party members support the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement against Israel,” they said.

“Keir Starmer is happy to engage with these Labour members, yet when a Muslim calls for BDS, he considers this unacceptable.”

‘In this selective disengagement, the Labour Leader is discriminating against Muslims, which feeds into the systemic Islamophobia that is rife within the Labour Party.”

“In demonising BDS, Keir Starmer is sending a clear signal of his unconditional support for Israel and its continued occupation of Palestine and its violation of Palestinian rights.”

Signatories to the petition finally demand a clarification from the Labour leader as to why he is undermining Muslims and any one else who is seeking justice and redress for the Palestinian people.