Derry group condemns removal of Palestinians from Sinn Féin event
'A young Palestinian woman was marched out for echoing the demand of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign that Joe Biden should be boycotted'
The Derry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (Derry IPSC) has condemned in the "strongest possible terms the expulsion of Palestinian activists from a Sinn Fein meeting" in Belfast.
Spokesperson for Derry IPSC, Catherine Hutton said: "The meeting in the Europa Hotel, was billed as a Palestine solidarity event yet Palestinians who do not support Sinn Fein position were forcibly removed.
"The scenes in Belfast on Wednesday night were truly awful. A man from Gaza was forced out of the room because he dared to challenge the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland.
"Another young Palestinian woman was marched out for echoing the demand of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign that Joe Biden should be boycotted.
"It's clear that Sinn Fein truly are taking an ' Our Selves Alone ' attitude when it comes to Palestine," said Ms Hutton.
Ms Hutton added that Derry IPSC would continue to call for a boycott of Washington.
"We refuse to be part of something that tries to silence grassroots Palestinian voices.
"Sinn Féin instead of defending their actions and smearing opponents should today be issuing apologies to the Palestinian activists.
"The best apology they could make to the broad pro Palestinian movement, would be to commit to boycotting the White House. "
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: "Hundreds of people attended a rally in the Europa Hotel to extend solidarity to the Palestinian people and to call for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to occupation.
"The event was addressed by a number of speakers from Palestine and Ireland, including the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland and Mustafa Barghouti, who joined the meeting from the West Bank.
"Sinn Féin's entire focus is on amximising positive solidarity with, and giving voice to the plight of the Palestinian people."