Coalition Accuses Commissioner Mark Rowley of Making “False and Defamatory” Claims About Protest Routes
The Palestine Coalition has launched a formal complaint against Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, accusing him of making “false and defamatory” statements linking pro-Palestinian demonstrations to antisemitism.
The complaint, submitted to the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC), follows media interviews given by Commissioner Rowley on 1 May in which he alleged organisers of Palestinian solidarity marches had attempted to route demonstrations near synagogues in London.
The dispute adds further tension to an already highly charged political and policing environment in the United Kingdom ahead of the annual Nakba Day march later this month.
Commissioner’s Remarks Spark Formal Action
Coalition Rejects Claims About Synagogue Routes
In interviews with The Times and ITV, Commissioner Rowley suggested the organisers’ intentions regarding protest routes raised concerns about antisemitism.
In The Times, he said: “The fact that features as the organisers’ intent, I think that sends a message … that feels like antisemitism.”
During the ITV interview, he added: “They set out with an intent to march near synagogues etc and every single time that we put conditions on to prevent that.”
The Palestine Coalition strongly rejected the allegations and said the statements were inaccurate and inflammatory. Organisers wrote to the Commissioner demanding a retraction and accused him of escalating tensions through misleading public comments.
In their letter, the Coalition stated: “The truth is that at no point have we ever requested to ‘walk by’ a synagogue on any of our marches. We have no interest in doing so. Police recordings of our meetings with you will confirm this…It is completely unacceptable for a senior public official to make these false claims and accusations, which can only raise the level of tension in the current situation.”
The Coalition said the formal complaint process began after no satisfactory response was received following the initial letter.
Complaint Alleges Breach of Professional Standards
Organisers Say Public Confidence Has Been Undermined
In its complaint to MOPAC, the Coalition argues that Commissioner Rowley’s remarks were deliberate rather than accidental and were intended to undermine public support for pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
The organisers allege the Commissioner breached the professional standards expected of his office by failing to act with honesty and integrity. They further claim his comments constituted an abuse of authority that risks damaging public confidence in policing institutions.
The complaint also accuses the Commissioner of acting in a racially discriminatory manner by implying that protests opposing Israeli military actions and British foreign policy amounted to antisemitism.
Coalition organisers are seeking a full public apology and formal retraction of the comments.
The dispute comes at a politically sensitive time in Britain, where public demonstrations connected to the Israel-Gaza conflict have become a recurring source of tension between protest groups, law enforcement agencies and political leaders.
Nakba Day March Set Against Heightened Political Tensions
Demonstration Planned for 16 May
The complaint has been filed ahead of the annual Nakba Day march scheduled for Saturday 16 May in London. The event commemorates the displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and is expected to draw large crowds.
Organisers say this year’s demonstration will call for an end to British support for Israeli military actions and policies affecting Palestinians. Protesters are also expected to oppose a far-right march led by Tommy Robinson taking place on the same day.
The Coalition criticised the Metropolitan Police for permitting the “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration access to central London while continuing to impose restrictions on the Nakba Day march under the Public Order Act.
According to organisers, those restrictions have significantly limited route options and protest conditions for pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
The Palestine Coalition consists of several advocacy and campaign groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestinian Forum of Britain, Stop the War Coalition, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Muslim Association of Britain and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
The Metropolitan Police and MOPAC have not publicly responded to the complaint at the time of publication.