Abtisam Mohamed: It was about censorship, says MP denied entry to Israel

Abtisam Mohamed: It was about censorship, says MP denied entry to Israel

Abtisam Mohamed expressed her thoughts on the Israeli government’s actions, calling it a move towards censorship and control. Along with fellow Labour MP Yuan Yang, Mohamed had plans to visit Israel and the occupied West Bank as part of a parliamentary delegation. However, they were detained at the airport on Saturday and sent back to the UK the following day.

Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer addressed the situation in a statement to MPs, highlighting the unprecedented nature of barring a British MP from entering Israel. He condemned the treatment of Mohamed and Yang, labeling it as “unacceptable and deeply concerning,” emphasizing that it was not an appropriate way to treat elected representatives of a close ally.

Speaking out for the first time post-incident, Mohamed asserted that their denial of entry was based on their political opinions, which align with international law. She emphasized that the issue was not related to security but instead about exerting control and enforcing censorship. Yang also shared her perspective, stating that she was aware of the risks of traveling to the region but did not anticipate facing detention and deportation from a British ally.

The Israeli embassy in London justified its decision by stating that individuals or entities acting against the state and its citizens would not be allowed entry. They accused Mohamed and Yang of making false claims against Israel and actively supporting sanctions against Israeli ministers. Despite some support for Israel’s right to control its borders, criticism arose within Parliament regarding the treatment of the two MPs, with conflicting views on whether they knew the risks of visiting a country in conflict

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