LONDON, (PIC)
The Palestinian Forum in Britain has issued a statement denouncing statements voiced by Robert Jenrick, a British politician who served in the Cabinet as Minister of State for Immigration from 2022 to 2023 and as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government from 2019 to 2021.
“We strongly condemn Robert Jenrick’s recent attack, which is rooted in inflammatory and false rhetoric that has been thoroughly discredited. As a political figure aspiring to lead one of the largest parties in this country, Jenrick’s campaign of hatred and division is profoundly troubling. His claims regarding Palestine solidarity protests in the UK, particularly accusations of supporting terrorism or antisemitism, are not only baseless but have been proven false. These protests have consistently been peaceful demonstrations opposing the brutal oppression of the Palestinian people and calling for justice and an end to the genocide in Gaza.”
The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB), established in 2003, has been a vital part of the UK community, serving not only Palestinians but also fostering strong relationships with all UK communities through a variety of social and cultural activities.
“Our mission is to advocate for Palestinian rights peacefully, promote dialogue, and educate the wider public about the plight of Palestinians living under occupation and siege,” the PFB added in a statement on Monday.
Adnan Hmidan, the acting chairman of the PFB, expressed his strong condemnation of the attack, stating: “We strongly deplore this attack by a political figure who aspires to lead the second-largest party in the country and holds a prominent position in a nation renowned for its respect for freedoms, diversity, and coexistence. Instead, we see someone like Robert Jenrick, whose campaign is built on spreading hatred, inciting division, rejecting freedoms, and disregarding human rights. He advocates policies aligned with some of the most oppressive regimes. But he does not stop there—he targets the Palestinian community in Britain through his attack on the Palestinian Forum, and criticizes those who stand in solidarity with a people enduring genocide in Gaza by attacking organizations like Friends of Al-Aqsa and others collaborating with us in the pro-Palestine coalition. We unequivocally condemn these statements and hold Robert Jenrick accountable for them. Allowing such divisive rhetoric to gain traction in our country threatens to foster division, undermine freedoms, and erode the culture of human rights. We call on Robert Jenrick to apologize and retract his statements, and we urge the responsible voices within the Conservative Party to reject candidates who promote division and intolerance.”
“We are deeply surprised and disheartened by such an attack from a leading UK politician like Robert Jenrick, especially at a time when the Palestinian community is enduring immense loss. Instead of offering condolences for the over 41,000 martyrs and nearly 100,000 injured Palestinians during the Gaza genocide, we find ourselves targeted for standing up for justice. This lack of empathy and understanding for Palestinian suffering is both shocking and deeply troubling,” the PFB statement said.
It concluded saying, “Robert Jenrick must be held accountable for spreading rhetoric that has been proven false. His actions not only incite division but also aim to stifle free expression and demonize those standing in solidarity with Palestinians. It is unacceptable for someone in his position to perpetuate misinformation for political gain.”
