The Metropolitan Police has cut ties with Attiq Malik, who served as an adviser, after he was filmed making a pro-Palestinian chant during a speech. According to the Sunday Telegraph, Malik was caught on camera in 2021 using the phrase “from the river to the sea” to conclude his talk. He holds the position of London Muslim Communities Forum chair and is a lawyer. The platform provides advice to the Met. The force highlighted that his comments did not conform to its values in a statement responding to the footage shared by the newspaper. Malik has not made any public comments about the incident at this time.
The video was recorded in Luton, where Malik spoke before protesters, following an Israeli assault on Gaza in May 2021. “What’s going on is global censorship by the Zionists, global censorship to silence us,” he was reported as having said. The “from the river to the sea” chant has been frequently used during pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London since then. It refers to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean.
The interpretation of the chant is somewhat controversial. Most Jewish groups and Israel regard it as a “violent desire” to eliminate Israel. According to some pro-Palestinian campaigners, however, most of those who use the chant are primarily calling for an end to Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the blockade of Gaza, rather than actually destroying the nation of Israel. Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, has urged police leaders to examine that message closely.
A spokesperson for the London Metropolitan Police told the press that the force would terminate Mr. Malik’s relationship immediately while investigations were carried out, but added that it would maintain its partnership with the London Muslims Community Forum. “The insights, feedback and reach into communities across London continues to play an important role in our response,” the spokesperson said
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