A reception to honor Sheikh Salah in London before his return to Palestine

The Palestinian Forum in Britain confirmed that Sheikh Raed Salah will return on Monday 16 April to Palestine after he had won finally his appeal against the Home Secretary’s decision to deport him from the United Kingdom.

“Sheikh Salah will return to his family and his home land with full honor after he had effectively achieved another victory against enemies of freedom and justice who usurped legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and their tools whose forefathers were responsible for the Palestinian Nakba from the Balfour Declaration till now,” a statement by PFB said.

The PFB and other friend organizations held a reception in honor of Sheikh Raed Salah, on Sunday 15th April, to celebrate his victory and bid him farewell. The ceremony was attended by the Palestinian community in Britain, Arab and Muslim communities, British friends of Palestine, and a delegation of the Islamic Movement leadership from 1948-occupied Palestine.

Speakers at the reception included Dr. Daud Abdullah, Director of the Middle East Monitor, the organization which invited Sheik Salah for a speaking tour, Sheikh Salah’s lawyer Tayyeb Ali, Baroness “Jenny Tong”, a Member of the House of Lords, Sarah Colborne, Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Lindsey German, Stop the War Convener, Ismail Patel, Chair of the Friends of al-Aqsa and Professor Manuel Hassassian, Head of the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission in the UK.

All those who worked with Sheikh Salah praised his determination and said that throughout he had faith that he would win and that he was an inspiration to all of them.

Sheikh Salah was presented with the “shield of pride” in recognition of his efforts in the defense of Jerusalem and the holy sites. His legal team, represented by Tayyeb Ali, was also honored.

Hafez Karmi, the PFB president, said that the Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities in Britain feel sad for the Sheikh’s departure but they are at the same time satisfied that he will return to his original mission to carry on his battle against the occupation, to defend the Aqsa Mosque and the holy sites, and to expose the occupation racist practices.

He also stressed that Sheikh Raed Salah’s victory raised the morale of the Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities in Britain.