By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
LONDON (AA): Thousands of protesters gathered Saturday in front of the U.S. Embassy in London to protest a travel ban introduced on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees.
Approximately 10,000 people marched from the embassy to 10 Downing Street where the U.K. government offices are to also protest Prime Minister Theresa May who has so far failed to condemn the latest restrictions by the U.S. administration.
“No hate no fear, refugees are welcome here,” shouted the protesters.
A placard read “Terrorism has no religion, it is the product of hatred and ignorance.”
“No to racism, no to Islamophobia,” was another placard carried by protesters.
The rally was called by various NGOs and groups, including Muslim Association of Britain, Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), Muslim Council of Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa and Stop the War Coalition, where Muslim groups extended invitation to people to visit around 150 mosques on the 3rd “Visit My Mosque Day” on Sunday.
“Trump’s ban on Muslims must be opposed by all who are against racism and support basic human rights and Theresa May’s collusion with Trump must end,” the organizers said.
The group called the U.K. government to cancel a state visit invitation extended recently by May to U.S. President Donald Trump, shouting “No to Trump!” in front of the government offices.
An online petition asking the government to cancel the visit was signed by more than 1.8 million people. A government statement said it will be debated at the House of Commons on Feb.20.
May said last Monday at a news conference in Dublin the visit would not be canceled after she personally extended the invitation during her recent visit to the White House last week.
Trump said he identified Muslim-majority nations for the travel ban from a government report on terror-prone states prepared during the Barack Obama administration.
It was the third big gathering in London to protest Donald Trump’s policies since he took the office on Jan.20, as the 45th U.S. president.
President Donald Trump on Saturday promised to reverse a federal restraining order on his controversial travel ban.
“The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
“When a country is no longer able to say who can, and who cannot, come in & out, especially for reasons of safety & security – big trouble!” he said.
[Photo: Protest by over 10000 people against Muslim ban by President Trump of US outside US Embassy in London on 4 January 2017. Photographer: Kate Green/AA]
