On Saturday afternoon, in one of London’s busiest shopping areas, a crowd of Sudanese protesters, numbering dozens or maybe over a hundred, gathered outside the Sudanese Embassy. The demonstration was conducted entirely in Arabic. Shoppers and passers-by had no idea what was being said, and for all we know, neither did the authorities.
Why are public protests allowed in a foreign language in England, where English is the national language? This was not an English protest with translation. Every word blasted through four loudspeakers was in Arabic. By any measure, that is divisive. It is a display of a foreign national identity in the heart of our capital.
The reality is stark. Ordinary Londoners cannot understand what is being said. The authorities may not either. Hate speech, disinformation, or political agitation could be broadcast unchecked. Enough is enough.
This links to a wider problem I have reported on before: the flying of foreign flags on our streets [1]. It sends the message that foreign identities matter more than British ones. That is not acceptable.
It is time to act. Public demonstrations in a language the public cannot understand should not be allowed in Britain. Our streets belong to the British people. Protests, speeches, and flags should speak to us and not leave us in the dark.
