The Muslim Council of Britain today condemned the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian journalist shot and killed by Israeli forces. It joined calls for an international investigation into this crime and calls for the UK government to speak out forcefully on the killing of innocent Palestinian civilians.
Zara Mohammed, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said.
“Shireen Abu Akleh was a fearless reporter of the truth. Her murder is part of the ongoing tragedy where Palestinians face apartheid. Our UK government should be condemning this, rather than propose outlawing boycotts against human rights abusers.”
The Israeli authorities have already reportedly admitted that Shireen Abu Akleh was only ‘armed with a camera’.
Shireen Abu Akleh was a Palestinian Christian journalist much admired through the Arab world and by fellow international journalists.
Her murder is a consequence of the apartheid conditions under which Palestinians are forced to go through: as confirmed by Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights organisations.
Just as we loudly and justifiably condemn the killing of journalists in other parts of the world, we must do so too here. The tepid response from our UK government will not do.
It is a reflection of an ongoing policy that marginalises the plight of the Palestinians, and reinforces ongoing efforts to stifle campaigns against Israel’s apartheid. While our UK government rightly introduces ever tougher sanctions against the Russian regime, it is, at the same time, introducing legislation to stop British institutions from introducing boycotts against the Israeli regime. The double standards could not be more obvious.