I am deeply moved to start this petition due to a recent development in the UK that has given police the right to arrest anyone seen holding the flag of Palestine. This is personal to me, and many others, as it feels like an attack on our freedom of expression and solidarity with a nation that has been facing severe oppression for over 75 years.

While protests against alleged “genocide” happening in Israel are supported and praised, millions of Palestinians who have been enduring real genocide are overlooked. They are unjustly labelled as terrorists when they are victims themselves. The media refuses to show their suffering - hundreds die every day under oppressive conditions. It has been only 24 hours since the “attack” on Israel and yet there has been more media coverage and support from counties like the UK and USA than there ever has been for the everlasting assault on Palestine. 
Starting this ban will not only take away the freedom of speech this country has supposedly given but will also limit the attention towards this crisis as the government are likely to continue stopping any movements in relation to it

This is not about taking sides but about recognising human rights violations where they exist. The Palestinian flag represents a people's struggle for freedom and justice; it should not be criminalised but respected.

The right to freedom of expression is protected under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 in the UK (source: Equality and Human Rights Commission). This includes political expression, which encompasses displaying flags as symbols of solidarity or protest. We urge that this right be upheld consistently for all nations' flags without bias or discrimination.

We call upon lawmakers in Parliament to reconsider this decision, uphold democratic values, protect free speech rights, and to not go ahead with banning the public display of the Palestinian flag again. Please sign this petition if you believe in equal treatment before law irrespective of one's political views or affiliations.