Hamas calls for UK to release religious leader

The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas strongly condemned the arrest of Sheikh Raed Salah in London yesterday by British Authorities. Salah, the leader of Northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Britain, was in the UK to participate in a London conference, “Palestine Day”.  Hamas branded the arrest as “illegal and immoral”, and said that it was a result of Zionist pressures.  Hamas contends Salah entered the country legally. The movement added: “We condemn the British Government’s compliance to Zionist pressures.  We call for the immediate release of Sheikh Raed Salah, to complete his participation in the conference to defend Palestinians; furthermore, we call on all human rights organizations, in and out of Britain, to pressure the British Government for the immediate release of the Sheikh.” A vigil of solidarity in support of Sheikh Raed Salah is being organised by the Islamic Jihad Movement to take place Thursday. An invitation has been sent out to all media sources including newspaper and TV station reporters, and news agencies, and both local and international new websites to attend and cover the demonstration, which will be held outside of the British Council in Gaza. The British Government reportedly arrested Sheikh Raed Salah under the claim that they have previously issued an entry-ban to British territories against him, which they will be now investigating.Haneen Zoubi, a Palestinian Knesset member, sent a warning letter to the British Ambassador in Israel, following Sheikh Salah’s arrest.  The letter warned the diplomat of the consequences if British Authorities were to participate in the “Israeli prosecution scheme against Arab leaders.” In the letter, Zoubi stressed the importance of the British Ambassador maintaining close communication with the British government, in order to prevent political misunderstandings.  She suggested the implementation of a policy that requires sending periodic reports to the British government, “in order to explain the internal political situation in Israel”.   She believes such a policy could potentially affect the relationship between Britain and Israel.  She explained that the reports could help the British government understand the situation of Palestinians in Israel, and discriminatory laws that they face.  She believes that if the British government understood the plight of Palestinians, they would help them pursue their political rights, along with their rights to land, homes, identity, and language. She added that if the British authorities understood Israel’s policies against Palestinians, they would understand that “all claims against Arab leaders and Palestinians in Israel are part of an incitement campaign in order to legitimize racist policies”. Zoubi continued by saying that the matter is urgent, as “the incitement campaign from Zionist Israel is expanding” and becoming global. In addition, Zoubi’s letter claimed that Israel’s discriminatory policies were to blame for Sheikh Salah’s arrest, and that the detention was a result of Zionist groups “trying to increase their influence on the decision-making process inside Britain”. Zoubi added that “it is the responsibility of foreign countries to support the demands and just struggle of Palestinians in Israel,” stating that “political and commercial sanctions must be enforced against any racist structure which suppresses and prosecutes its citizens, as is the current situation in Israel.” She believes that “British Authorities should be aware that blindly complying with the Israeli agenda and falling under the pressures of Zionist organizations poses a threat to the life and rights of Palestinians in Israel, as well as the sovereignty of Britain.” Zoubi called on Palestinians “to immediately intensify political campaigning in front of all foreign embassies in Israel, and international and diplomatic bodies as well.”