Council leader and LICS president urge Foreign Secretary to act
Peray Ahmed, the Labour leader of Haringey Council in north London, and Bibi Khan, president of the London Islamic Cultural Society (LICS), have written a joint letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy urging stronger action on Israel-Palestine.
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Rt Hon David Lammy MP
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
CC: Catherine West, MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet; Bambos Charalambous, MP for Southgate and Wood Green; Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Highgate
24 July 2025
Dear Foreign Secretary,
Yesterday, we met with representatives from our Muslim community in Haringey at one of our regular meetings. We shared deep concerns for what is happening to Palestinians in Gaza. As a country – at home and abroad – it is clear we must do much more.
We can be in no doubt the scale of suffering endured by the Palestinian people. Children are starving in the street. Families are shot and killed collecting aid. And illegal Israeli settlements retain the support of this Israeli government.
There is deepening distress in our communities as to the government’s reluctance to take more tangible action. What happened in Israel on October 7th was an unspeakable horror. And what happens now in Gaza is an unspeakable horror.
The international community – including the government – must do far more to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and ensure the safe release of the hostages.
That is why we now ask the government to urgently:
- Recognise Palestine as a state.
- End arms sales to Israel, until such time that it is clear the Palestinian people are no longer subject to human rights abuses.
- Impose trade restrictions and further targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on all individuals and entities complicit in the occupation of the West Bank and other illegal settlements.
- Redouble its efforts to ensure that all hostages are freed.
- Engage with local councils on the proposed changes to pension funds set to impede local government decision-making on ethical investment.
Our communities are urging the government to step up.
Our communities are urging the government to step up.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
(Signature)
Cllr Peray Ahmet, Leader of Haringey Council and Haringey Labour Group
(Signature)
Bibi Khan MBE, President London Islamic Cultural Society, Haringey.
Chairperson North London Council of Mosques representing 20 Mosques in Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Islington.
Posted 26 July 2025