LONDON, June 29, 2011 (WAFA) – British Authorities arrested Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic movement’s northern branch in Israel, at dawn Wednesday from a hotel in London, and are preparing to deport him from the UK under the pretext of being a threat to the British public.
Salah was arrested during his visit to participate in a convention to support Palestine. He had conducted a series of meetings over the last few days, and was preparing to meet with major British newspapers and cabinet members in the parliament Wednesday to discuss the Israeli occupation’s crimes and violations.
Prior to his arrest, the British Authorities launched a counter media campaign in an attempt to prevent his visit based on previous Israeli accusations.
Salah resides in Umm al-Fahm, an Arab city inside Israel that borders the Green Line, and served as the city’s mayor in the 1990s. He was arrested by Israeli authorities in 2003 on allegations of funding Hamas, and released two years later.
Salah is very involved in activities against Israeli excavation near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He also took part in the 2010 Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, where he was on board the Mavi Marmara, the lead ship in the convoy, and was injured on May 31, 2010 in clashes with the Israeli Navy on the ship.
R.Q./F.J.
