An Iranian defector was arrested on suspicion of racist behavior after waving a St. George’s Cross flag and eating a banana during a pro-Hamas protest in London last week.
Niyak Ghorbani describes himself as a “guest from Iran.” [the] In the UK, protesters have frequently been seen attending pro-Hamas and anti-Israel protests in London in recent months carrying placards reading “Hamas is terrorists.” While the sign may be provoking protesters, it reflects the UK government’s legal position. Hamas is a terrorist group banned under the Terrorism Act of 2000. Despite this, Ghorbani has been arrested multiple times for this sign.
Now, the anti-Hamas activist has been arrested again, but not for carrying a sign, but rather for brandishing and eating a banana and carrying the flag of England, the country where he was staying at the time of his arrest. arrested for the reason.
British newspapers are daily telegraph Mr. Ghorbani Said “The St. George’s flag is sometimes flown by racists and carrying a banana can be interpreted as a racist gesture,” the officers said.
WATCH: Police arrest Iranian activist in London with placard saying ‘Hamas is terrorist’ https://t.co/2n19pL92pk
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) April 18, 2024
Bananas have become a symbol of small anti-Hamas protests in recent weeks, after bananas were completely banned during protests at the Palestinian Solidarity Encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles. This is probably because one of the members had an allergy. In fact, a Breitbart News reporter was told he would only be allowed into the encampment as long as he wore a mask and did not bring bananas or nuts inside.
Taken together Other strict rules At the protests, the banana ban rule was interpreted as rationally irrational, even though it was very much a protest against Israel’s borders, and was seen as ironic given the political atmosphere. drew some ridicule.
While bananas have been argued to be a symbol of racism in some situations, Ghorbani says this is not relevant in the case of the pro-Hamas protests in London.he said telegraph paper: “I got one of the two bananas and started eating it. I didn’t make any racist gestures or insults. I just stood there eating the banana, and someone must have complained that I was a racist…I never showed a banana to a black person. There were no black people there and this was completely fabricated. I’m a foreigner myself, and I’ve never racially insulted anyone. I just used it to make fun of pro-Palestinian protesters, like they do in America. ”
London police come under fire for arresting man holding sign calling Hamas a ‘terrorist’ grouphttps://t.co/b8HpxoFU4z
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) March 10, 2024
As previously reported, Ghorbani has been arrested several times in the past for making factual legal statements and opposing pro-Hamas demonstrations. Police have said Mr Ghorbani was not arrested for the sign, but rather for assaulting a crowd, but the March arrest came after the Metropolitan Police reviewed footage of the incident. , Ghorbani was later released from arrest after it was discovered that he had been arrested. He was actually the one who was attacked.
Police also sought to prevent Mr Ghorbani from taking part in any protests, using an order and bail conditions banning him from the area, which were later overturned by a judge. But the same tactics are being used again, with bail conditions once again being applied to protesters after last Saturday’s Banana arrest.
According to the report, Mr Ghorbani is currently banned from entering two central London boroughs and from participating in “pro-Palestinian” demonstrations in London.
