Latest news with #StephenKapos
Arab News
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Holocaust survivor questioned by UK police after laying flowers at Gaza protest
LONDON: A Holocaust survivor was questioned by police after laying flowers in London's Trafalgar Square to commemorate Palestinians killed in Gaza. Stephen Kapos, 87, took part in a demonstration in the UK capital on Jan. 18. He was among nine people later questioned by the Metropolitan Police, after 77 others were arrested in what critics say was an example of 'repressive and heavy-handed policing.' Kapos survived the Holocaust after Nazi Germany occupied his home country of Hungary. He lived in hiding in Budapest as a child, losing his mother in the process. His father was imprisoned in the notorious Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. After questioning by police, Kapos told The Independent that he was 'proud' to demonstrate in support of the Palestinian people, adding that members of his family accompanied him on protests. Speaking outside Charing Cross Police Station in central London, he said he wanted to dispel ideas that 'there is solid support from all Jews' for Israel's actions. 'The sort of killing that's going on, it's unbearable to watch and one wonders where it's leading to because there is no defence to speak of. They are defenceless people out in the open,' Kapos, surrounded by supporters including other Holocaust survivors and their relatives, told The Independent. 'Their homes have been bombed to smithereens and they are in tents and now they are going to be bombed. 'It's unbearable and I don't understand how the world can stand it. And, I'm ashamed of our government and everybody else who facilitates it and enables it.' Kapos called for the UK government to condemn Israel and immediately suspend military contracts with the country. 'They should at the very minimum condemn Israel's actions, which they don't do, and immediately stop all supplies of armaments and any other logistical and information support that they do give,' he said. 'All that should be stopped immediately because there's no doubt about this being an atrocity and international crime, what's going on, what's perpetrated by Israel. So, how can you hesitate in the face of that?' Kapos added that protesting would 'make it clear that all this will have electoral consequences' for the UK government, stressing that marches in support of the Palestinians 'are not hate marches' and 'are not no-go areas for Jews, which is again claimed.' Dr. Agnes Kory, another Holocaust survivor who stood with Kapos, said: 'In the name of a Holocaust survivor, which is me, and a Holocaust researcher, which is also me, I say no, not in our names, and I have to be at the forefront of peace for Palestine movements.' Mark Etkind, co-organizer of Holocaust Survivors and Descendants Against the Gaza Genocide, described the behavior of the Metropolitan Police as 'terrifying, not just for the Palestine movement, but for anyone who wants to protest and believes in British democracy.' The Metropolitan Police did not disclose why Kapos had been questioned, and said protesters were detained at the march on Jan. 18 for a breach of the Public Order Act. A group of more than 50 politicians, trade unionists and lawyers wrote to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in the aftermath of the 77 arrests to complain about the behavior of the police. Another group of around 40 Holocaust survivors wrote an open letter condemning the treatment of Kapos. 'Any repression of the right to protest is bad enough — but to persecute a Jewish 87-year-old whose Holocaust experiences compel him to speak out against the Gaza genocide, is quite appalling,' the group said.
The Independent
24-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Holocaust survivor who laid flowers at Gaza protest questioned by police
Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos, 87, was questioned by London's Metropolitan Police following his participation in a pro-Palestine protest in Trafalgar Square on January 18. Mr Kapos, who laid flowers at the square to commemorate Palestinian lives lost in the Israel - Hamas war, is one of nine people summoned for questioning after the protest, during which 77 arrests were made. The Met Police allege that protesters violated pre-communicated Public Order Act conditions by moving from Whitehall to Trafalgar Square. Mr Kapos, along with supporters, criticised the UK government's response to the conflict, urging condemnation of Israeli actions and an end to military contracts. A group of Holocaust survivors and descendants has penned an open letter condemning the police's questioning of Mr Kapos.
The Independent
24-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Holocaust survivor, 87, questioned by police after laying flowers at Trafalgar Square during Gaza protest
An elderly Holocaust survivor has been questioned by police after he laid flowers at Trafalgar Square during a Gaza protest to commemorate the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in the Israel -Hamas war. Stephen Kapos, 87, was interviewed by the Metropolitan Police on Friday about the pro-Palestine protest on 18 January in central London – a demonstration the force faced accusations of 'repressive and heavy-handed policing' over at the time. Mr Kapos lived in hiding under the Nazi regime as a child in Budapest, Hungary, after he lost touch with his mother, and his father was taken to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. He is among nine people who have been called in by the Met for questioning after 77 people were arrested on the day of the protest. So far, 21 people have since been charged. Speaking outside Charing Cross Police Station following his interview on Friday afternoon, Mr Kapos told The Independent he planned to continue marching for peace in Gaza, describing how 'proud' he is that his family, including his son and grandchildren, also join him. He said he wanted to disprove claims that 'there is solid support from all Jews towards what's going on'. Mr Kapos spoke surrounded by around 100 supporters, many of whom were either Holocaust survivors or descendants of them. A banner reading 'Holocaust survivor descendants against Gaza genocide!' was one of the signs being held up, while chants such as 'We are all Palestinians' were called out by the crowd. The grandfather stressed the importance of this during a week when Israel launched a fresh wave of attacks on the Strip, shattering the fragile ceasefire that had held for the past few weeks in a move he described as 'horrifying'. 'The sort of killing that's going on, it's unbearable to watch and one wonders where it's leading to because there is no defence to speak of. They are defenceless people out in the open. 'Their homes have been bombed to smithereens and they are in tents and now they are going to be bombed. It's unbearable and I don't understand how the world can stand it. 'And I'm ashamed of our government and everybody else who facilitates it and enables it.' Mr Kapos strongly criticised the UK government's response, calling for it to condemn Israel's actions and to end all military contracts. 'They should at the very minimum condemn Israel's actions, which they don't do, and immediately stop all supplies of armaments and any other logistical and information support that they do give,' he said. 'All that should be stopped immediately because there's no doubt about this being an atrocity and international crime, what's going on, what's perpetrated by Israel. So how can you hesitate in the face of that?' Earlier this week Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'deeply concerned' about the resumption of Israeli military action in Gaza. The prime minister's official spokesperson insisted 'all parties, including Israel, must respect international humanitarian law'. 'We're clear that Israel must have security, and Hamas cannot play any role in the future of Gaza, but we must see the talks urgently resume, the ceasefire agreement to implement in full and see permanent peace worked towards.' Mr Kapos described protesting as 'exerting pressure through numbers to make it clear that all this will have electoral consequences'. Mr Kapos also wanted to highlight how the demonstrations 'are not hate marches' and 'are not no-go areas for Jews, which is again claimed'. The Met argues protesters allegedly breached Public Order Act conditions that were in place during the 18 January demonstration, which were communicated in advance. They say the conditions required those taking part to remain in Whitehall, but a 'large group' made its way into Trafalgar Square and in some cases attempted to go further. A Met Police spokesperson said: 'As part of our ongoing investigation into alleged breaches of Public Order Act conditions on Saturday, 18 January we have invited a further eight people to be interviewed under caution at a police station. 'While we are aware of names being attributed to those who have been invited for interview, we do not confirm the identity of anyone under investigation.' For legal reasons, Mr Kapos was unable to provide details on his police interview, or if the exact reasons behind why he was summoned were disclosed to him. However, that day, Mr Kapos was among a group of demonstrators who carried flowers to lay down in Trafalgar Square to remember the more than 48,000 Palestinians who have so far been killed, according to Gaza's health officials, since Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. According to the Stop the War Coalition, all of the activists who received police letters calling them in for questioning by the Met were among that group. More than 50 MPs and peers, as well as trade union leaders and legal experts, were among those who wrote to home secretary Yvette Cooper at the time, demanding an independent inquiry into the tactics used by the Met at the 18 January protest. A group of 40 'extremely shocked' Holocaust survivors or descendants of Holocaust survivors have now written an open letter condemning the police's questioning of Mr Kapos. It reads: 'Any repression of the right to protest is bad enough – but to persecute a Jewish 87-year-old whose Holocaust experiences compel him to speak out against the Gaza genocide, is quite appalling.' Mark Etkind, co-organiser of Holocaust survivors and descendants against the Gaza genocide, is among those denouncing the force's 'over-policing' of the ongoing pro-Palestine protests in general, describing it as 'terrifying, not just for the Palestine movement, but for anyone who wants to protest and believes in British democracy'. Holocaust survivor Dr Agnes Kory was also among those supporting Mr Kapos outside Charing Cross Police Station on Friday and issued a strong condemnation of Israel's attack on Gaza. She said: 'In the name of a Holocaust survivor, which is me, and a Holocaust researcher, which is also me, I say no, not in our names, and I have to be at the forefront of peace for Palestine movements.' In a report earlier this month, United Nations experts said Israel carried out "genocidal acts" against Palestinians by systematically destroying women's healthcare facilities during the conflict in Gaza, and used sexual violence as a war strategy.
Middle East Eye
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Holocaust survivors denounce UK police for questioning Stephen Kapos
Forty Holocaust survivors and their descendants have signed a letter denouncing the Metropolitan Police for calling in Stephen Kapos, 87, for questioning about a pro-Palestine protest in London on 18 January. Kapos is a survivor of the Holocaust who was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1937. He has regularly attended marches in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza since Israel's war on the territory began. Earlier this month, the Met police handed out letters to a number of prominent activists, calling them in for questioning over their alleged roles in the march in late January. They include Kapos, actor Khalid Abdalla, and officers from the Stop the War Coalition, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmement and Friends of al-Aqsa. A protest will take place outside Charing Cross police station at 2pm on Friday, when Kapos is due to be interviewed. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Police accused protesters on 18 January of breaking through a police cordon between Whitehall and Trafalgar Square. Organisers of the protest two months ago have disputed the police account, saying that protesters were invited by officers to 'filter through' to Trafalgar Square. They have accused officers of 'heavy-handed and aggressive policing'. Police to question 'The Crown' star Abdalla and Holocaust survivor over pro-Palestine protest Read More » "Any repression of the right to protest is bad enough - but to persecute a Jewish 87-year-old whose Holocaust experiences compel him to speak out against the Gaza genocide, is quite appalling," the Holocaust survivors and descendants wrote in a joint letter. "This very concerning development makes it even more important for Jews to speak out against the genocide." The signatories include Holocaust survivors Agnes Kory and Jacques Bude, the latter of whose parents were murdered in Auschwitz. More than 70 people were arrested during the protest two months ago, including Chris Nineham, the chief steward of the demonstration. 'Massive overreach of powers' Ben Jamal, the head of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), was also charged with a public order offence. He pleaded not guilty during proceedings last month. MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, the former leader of the opposition and shadow chancellor, were interviewed under caution over their involvement in the protest. The PSC said: "That a Holocaust survivor is called in by the police for the alleged offence of carrying a bunch of flowers into Trafalgar Square underlines the unjustifiable extremes to which the Metropolitan Police are prepared to go to restrict the right to public protest and silence the Palestine solidarity movement." The group accused the Met of a "massive overreach of their powers" and of misrepresenting the events that took place. Anti-Zionist Jewish group says Israel 'perpetrating a holocaust' in Gaza Read More » Two years ago, Kapos resigned from the Labour Party after being told he would be expelled from the party if he spoke at a Holocaust Memorial Day meeting organised by a left-wing group. He had been asked to speak about his experiences as a child survivor of the Holocaust at an event by the Socialist Labour Network. Kapos received an email - which Middle East Eye has seen - from the London Labour party, warning him that if he spoke at the meeting, he would was likely to be expelled from the party. In his resignation letter to the party, Kapos said Labour's 'attempt to effectively bar me from speaking about the Holocaust on Holocaust Memorial Day was the last straw for me'. He stressed the importance of speaking about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor and accused Labour's current leadership of 'McCarthyism', a reference to the campagin to smear left-wing people in the United States in the 1940s and 50s. 'As a child survivor and one of the fewer and fewer still living direct witnesses to the Holocaust, I feel a compelling duty to bear witness and speak out about it at any platform that would invite me and to any audience ready to listen,' he said.
Middle East Eye
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Middle East Eye
Police to question Holocaust survivor and 'The Crown' star over pro-Palestine protest
Khalid Abdalla, the British-Egyptian star of the hit show The Crown, and 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos are among those who have been ordered to attend formal interviews with the Metropolitan Police over alleged public order breaches at a pro-Palestine rally in London in January. Abdalla, who played Princess Diana's lover Dodi Fayed in the hit Netflix drama The Crown, said on Monday: "I received a letter from the Metropolitan Police summoning me to attend 'a formal interview' in relations to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest of Jan 18th." So far, 21 people have been charged so far over the protest, the police said. They include the rally's chief steward Chris Nineham and Palestine Solidarity Campaign Director Ben Jamal. The Met accused demonstrators on 18 January of breaking through a police cordon in Trafalgar Square, a claim which organisers and protesters, including prominent politicians, strongly deny. Kapos, 87, who has been summoned for a police interview, was a child survivor of the Holocaust in Hungary who later fled to Britain in the wake of the Soviet invasion in 1956.
