Handshake of Lammy with Jihadist Leader on July 7th Anniversary Triggers Outrage: 'Insulting to the Departed'
In a move that has sparked national outrage and accusations of betrayal, Foreign Secretary David Lammy was recently photographed shaking hands with Ahmed al-Sharaa, a man who fought for al-Qaeda. The meeting, which occurred during the anniversary week of the 7/7 bombings, has raised questions about the UK's foreign policy under the Labour government led by Keir Starmer.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, currently Syria's de facto ruler, has a significant militant pedigree. He served in the Islamic State of Iraq, founded Jabhat al-Nusra, and led Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that remains a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, the same designation al-Qaeda holds.
The meeting took place as the US officially revoked HTS's terrorist designation on the day before the UK's 7/7 commemoration. On the same day, 29 peaceful protesters were arrested in Parliament Square for expressing solidarity with Palestine Action, a group that was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK government last week.
Critics argue that while a former jihadist leader receives UK aid and diplomatic respect, British citizens protesting the arms trade are being arrested. The actions of David Lammy have been criticised for disgracing the memory of the 7/7 dead, desecrating the solemnity of remembrance, and exposing a government whose moral compass spins with the winds of power.
One analyst stated that "Democracy is now a euphemism for aligning with our interests." This sentiment is shared by many, who see the UK's foreign policy as demonstrating a performative commitment to values that evaporates when strategic opportunity arises.
In recent weeks, David Lammy visited Washington, where he met with US Senator Marco Rubio, and Kyiv, Ukraine, where he showed support amid ongoing conflict. There is no specific mention of meetings with other world leaders beyond these locations in the available information.
David Lammy has granted legitimacy to a former al-Qaeda commander on the very anniversary of al-Qaeda's deadliest attack on UK soil. The July 7, 2005 attacks in London, which were carried out by al-Qaeda, killed 52 people and injured over 700. A spokesperson from a London-based terror victims' group described the timing of the Damascus visit as a "slap in the face to every survivor."
As the controversy continues to unfold, the government faces mounting pressure to explain its decision to engage with a known terrorist leader. The public awaits a response, seeking clarity and assurance that the UK's foreign policy remains guided by principles of justice and compassion.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Large-scale SEA-EYE rescue operation in the central Mediterranean: 144 individuals saved
- Confidential Data Protection in Medical Field: Defending Vital Patient Data
- Medical professionals call for RKI to advocate for COVID-19 vaccine distribution
