Rally outside Qatari Embassy on Sunday Kick Terror Out!

Friends,

As you may be aware by now on Sunday, Sussex Friends of Israel alongside two other pro-Israel, grass roots, activist groups (PIRG and IFTF) are holding an event outside the Qatari Embassy in London.

We all know that Israel is not the enemy. It is our intention, by standing together outside the Embassy that people will start to join the dots between Qatar, terrorism and the World Cup. It is an opportunity for us to send a strong message via world media that Israel is not the real enemy, countries that finance terror are, countries like Qatar. Our aim is to encourage people to start questioning Qatar’s involvement in the funding of terror groups such as Hamas and the fact that the world has seemingly rewarded Qatar for funding terror, by awarding it the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Qatar’s involvement with Hamas is now unequivocal and many of the rockets fired and tunnels built in recent months were as a direct result of Qatar’s wealth and support. To then award Qatar with the premier global football tournament is both ludicrous and wrong. At present there are no firm guarantees that if the Israeli football team qualify for 2022, that they will be allowed into Qatar to participate. Likewise questions still remain as to whether supporters with Israeli stamps in their passports will also be allowed entry into Qatar to support their national teams. These are only two of many, many questions that remain since FIFA’s much derided decision to appoint Qatar as hosts in 2022

We are delighted to announce that Mark Lewis will be addressing us on Sunday. Mark is a lawyer who recently acted on behalf of Milly Dowler and was the lawyer central in the News of the World-hacking case. Mark has previously worked with the P.F.A (Professional Footballers Association) and has strong views on the current situation; we look forward to hearing them

Sunday is just the beginning of an on-going campaign designed to highlight Qatar’s continued disregard of international law in supporting terror groups and its direct involvement in countless deaths and enormous suffering in countries around the world.

We would love you to join us. Our message is two-fold and simple:

‘Qatar: Stop Funding Terror’ and ‘Kick Terror Out of Football’.

The more people we have at the rally, the stronger our message.

The event is being held outside the Qatari Embassy, 1 South Audley Street, London W1K 1NB and will start at 2pm. The event on Sunday is not intended to be lengthy nor is it our intention to provide an all singing, all dancing afternoons entertainment. We shall be leaving for London on the 11.56 train from Hove which arrives at 12.58. It is only one underground stop from Victoria to Green Park (which is the closest to the Qatari Embassy) or approximately a 25 minute walk from Victoria to South Audley Street. The cost of an open return to Victoria (minus the underground) is £14.20. The event will be no longer than one hour in duration and we hope to be back in Brighton by late afternoon. As usual the Police have been informed and have been magnificent in their assistance and we have full Police support in facilitating our right to protest. Neither SFI nor the Police are expecting any counter demonstration as any counter demo would be there in SUPPORT of terror.

We have asked that if you possess a football shirt (or you can borrow one) that you wear it to reinforce our message in any pictures but you will be most welcome whether wearing your team’s colours or not.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Sunday and anticipate a great afternoon of solidarity and community (football) team spirit.

“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed.
If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the earth.”
― William Faulkner

Best

Simon