More Questions are raised about Rushanara Ali’s election victory, as the ‘Free Palestine Three’, allegedly arrested on her and Tower Hamlets Labour complaints, walk free.
Part I of a two-part series, looking into the Human Rights record of Bethnal Green and Stepney MP, Rushanara Ali.
Press Conference at the London Bangla Press Club by the ‘Free Palestine Three’
On Friday, August 30th, a press conference was held at the London Bangla Press Club, Bricklane. The event featured a group calling themselves the ‘Free Palestine Three’. These activists had been arrested on election day and subsequently released on bail conditions shortly after the election results were announced the following morning.
The arrests coincided with what some residents described as a police raid at the Chicksands Estate on election day. The Chicksands Estate is located between Brick Lane and Whitechapel Market.
Some opposition activists and individuals claiming to have connections within the local Labour Party have suggested that the police activity and arrests may have had strategic implications for the election outcome. Raids and arrests that were instigated by Rushanara Ali and members of the local Labour Party.
While these claims have not been independently verified, the situation may evolve if the ‘Free Palestine Three’ pursue legal action regarding their arrests. Should such legal proceedings occur, disclosure rules could potentially require local law enforcement to release any relevant correspondence they may have had with Rushanara Ali and the local Labour Party. This could provide additional context to the events surrounding the arrests and police activity on election day.
Above: Press Release by the ‘Free Palestine Three’, 30th August 2024
More Questions Raised about Rushanara’s ‘contested election victory’.
THCC Press Conference on the 2nd August 2024
Opposition activists have put forward a theory about the events on election day, supported by some within the local Labour Party. They suggest that due to the Chicksands Estate’s central location within the local Bangladeshi community’s cultural and economic areas, any police activity there would quickly become widely known.
Some opposition activists claim that certain events may have affected voter turnout, particularly among community members with prior experiences of policing in Bangladesh. These activists allege that rumours were circulating in the days leading up to and on election day. According to these claims, some canvassers, reportedly including those from the Labour Party and at least one individual associated with the Liberal Democrats, Aminur Khan, were said to have spread messages about potential police actions against local mosques. This was due to their pro-Palestine activities.
The local police later refuted claims about mosque closures, supporting the issuing of a statement a week after the election. This statement coincided with demonstrations held outside the police station following the arrest of a pro-Palestine activist.
This press conference follows another held by the Tower Hamlets Community Coalition (THCC) a fortnight prior, which I attended. At that event, the THCC briefed Bangla language journalists and mentioned the arrests in their statement. The coalition also indicated they were seeking legal advice regarding potential action to challenge the election results.
The timing of these events coincides with recent political developments in Bangladesh, referred to by some as the “August Revolution.” Speaking to one attendee at the press conference, he drew parallels between the alleged use of police resources in Tower Hamlets and recent events in Bangladesh involving police action against student protesters.
Above: Press Release by the Tower Hamlets Community Coalition (THCC), 2nd August 2024
More Questions about Rushanara’s Human Rights Record and alleged support given to the security services in Bangladesh.
Is this a one-off alleged suppression of Human Rights by Rushanara? It appears not. On the 27th of August, the Bangladesh Government announced a commission of enquiry on enforced disappearances by the security services from the 1st of January 2010 to the 5th of August 2024. Leading to questions about Rushanara Ali’s role as the ‘UK Trade Envoy to Bangladesh’ to the previous Conservative Government. In particular the arming and training of that government of, elements of the Bangladeshi security services, sanctioned by the US Government for Human Rights abuses. What many described as ‘death squads’ in Bangladesh.
Part II will look into the allegations unsurfaced, into Rushanara Ali’s alleged role in the arming and training of alleged ‘death squads’ in Bangladesh.
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