Today, Sunday, 10 May 2026, thousands of British Jews, civil society activists, religious leaders, political figures, and supporters of oppressed communities gathered in a major rally outside Downing Street in London to protest against the growing wave of antisemitism in Britain.
The rally was held under the title “Standing Strong: Extinguish Antisemitism”, with the main slogan “Britain Stands with British Jews.” According to reports, the number of participants was estimated at around 20,000.
The gathering was organised in response to the increase in attacks, threats, and the deeply concerning atmosphere facing the British Jewish community, including the recent attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green, London. Several major Jewish and allied organisations, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council, Campaign Against Antisemitism, the Office of the Chief Rabbi, the Union of Jewish Students, the Jewish Kurdish Network, and a number of other organisations, were among the organisers and supporters of the event.
Political leaders from different British parties also attended and addressed the rally, including Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party; Pat McFadden from the Labour Party; Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats; and Richard Tice from Reform UK. Adrian Cohen, a Jewish friend and supporter of the Kurdish people, also spoke at the rally and emphasised the importance of solidarity between Jews and Kurds. The speakers called for stronger action by the British government to confront antisemitism, extremism, and security threats against the Jewish community.
One of the most significant moments of the rally was the speech by Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi of Britain. In a firm and clear tone, he called on the British government to expel the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He said: “Why has the Iranian ambassador not been expelled? Expel him now. Ban the IRGC now.”
Alongside the large presence of Jews and supporters of the Jewish community, Kurds also had a strong and visible presence at the rally with Kurdistan flags. The raising of the Kurdistan flag among the crowd sent a clear message of solidarity from the Kurdish nation with the Jewish people, as well as a shared opposition to antisemitism, hatred, extremism, and the repressive policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Ashtyako Poorkarim, Secretary-General of the Kurdistan Independence Party, also attended the rally together with a number of members of the party. By carrying and raising the Kurdistan flag, they expressed their support for the British Jewish community and emphasised the importance of strengthening the friendly, political, and historical relations between the Kurdish and Jewish peoples.
The Kurdish presence at this event was not merely symbolic. It carried a political and humanitarian message rooted in the shared experience of nations that have faced discrimination, oppression, denial of identity, displacement, and security threats throughout history. Kurdish participants stressed that the fight against antisemitism is part of a broader struggle against hatred, terrorism, extremism, and the defence of the right to life, security, freedom, and human dignity for all nations.
During the rally, Israeli flags, British flags, and Kurdish flags were also visible. Protesters called for stronger action by the British government against antisemitism, extremism, and threats linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this context, the presence of the Kurdistan flag once again reflected the historical and political bond between Kurds and Jews, as well as the mutual support of the two nations for freedom, security, and the right to self-determination.
Kurdish participants stated that just as the Jewish people have the right to live in security, freedom, and peace, the Kurdish nation also has the right to freedom, independence, and self-determination.
This rally showed that the fight against antisemitism is not only an issue for the Jewish community, but a humanitarian and global matter connected to all nations that struggle against hatred, terrorism, extremism, discrimination, and oppression. The active presence of Kurds with the Kurdistan flag in the heart of London carried a clear message: the Kurdish nation stands with the Jewish people and seeks a future based on freedom, mutual respect, security, solidarity, and the independence of nations.
