Arabs of Bristol and Cardiff: Gaza as a Key Election Issue

12 June 2024

On the evening of Sunday, June 9, 2024, the Arab community in Bristol and Cardiff convened for an open meeting focused on encouraging participation in the UK general elections and supporting Gaza through voting.

The event saw significant attendance from the community, marked by in-depth discussions and insightful contributions.

Arab Community Meetings in Bristol and Cardiff

The session began with remarks from Adnan Hamidan, President of the Al-Arab in UK platform and the Arab Voice campaign, along with Dr. Anas Al-Tikriti, co-founder of both the Arab Voice and Muslim Voice campaigns. They discussed the critical role of electoral engagement and its influence on Arab-centric issues, particularly Gaza.

In Bristol, the event took place at the Community Services Center and was hosted by the Arab Bristol Forum. Jad Al-Homsi extended a warm welcome to the attendees, and Luqaa Abu Zaid provided an overview of the forum’s objectives. The discussion was facilitated by Ubaida Haboosh.

Meanwhile, in Cardiff, approximately an hour away from Bristol, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hajj Ali, President of the Syrian Welsh Association, managed the event. He coordinated the seminar and concluded the evening with a compelling dialogue with the participants.

Several parliamentary candidates were present, providing introductory remarks amid reconciliatory efforts between two candidates in East Bristol.

Key Discussion Points

Exercising Voting Rights: Emphasizing the importance of participation, as abstaining from voting could advantage less favorable candidates.
Avoiding Split Votes: If multiple favorable candidates are in the same area, efforts are made for one to step aside for the benefit of the other.
Punitive Voting: The community was urged to withhold votes from the Labour and Conservative parties to spotlight Gaza in the election narrative.
Candidate Selection Criteria: The Arab Voice and Muslim Voice campaigns shared stringent criteria for candidate endorsement.
Electronic Information Services:
- An online service is available to review the positions of former MPs, accessible here.
- A recommendation service for endorsed candidates is available here.
Election Registration: A reminder of the importance of registering to vote by June 18, 2024.
Proxy Voting: Options for appointing a proxy voter under compelling circumstances or during travel are detailed here.

The meeting concluded with a strong call to participate in a pioneering poll aimed at gauging the perspectives of Arab voters in Britain, stressing the importance of active engagement for its success. The poll can be completed here.”