The Friends of Al-Aqsa organization (FOA), which is based in the UK, denounced the British government’s assault on BDS and the freedom of speech in support of the Israeli occupation on Monday, June 19.
The British government is tabling the ‘Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill’, or ‘anti-BDS Bill’. This is an attack on the democratic right of public bodies in the UK to make ethical choices. It is part of the current government’s wide-ranging crackdown on the right to expression.
The world’s leading human rights organizations have joined with Palestinians in saying that Israel is inflicting apartheid.
In light of this, the British government should be imposing sanctions on Israel for its ongoing human rights abuses and violations of international law. It should not be eroding the rights of public bodies to hold Israel to account through boycotts and divestment.
“As individuals committed to defending human rights and resisting oppression, we must do everything in our power to oppose this draconian legislation” says Shamiul Joarder, Head of Public Affairs at FOA.
He stated, “This is a grave attack on our human rights and our ability to defend human rights – not just in Palestine but around the world. Right now the Bill is in the early stages so by acting quickly together, we have the power to stop it becoming law”.
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