LABOUR Muslim campaigners condemned in “the strongest possible terms” a vote in Parliament this week to restrict divestment in companies profiting from illegally occupied Palestinian land.

The amendment to the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill, proposed by former Tory minister Robert Jenrick, was passed by 299 to 81 votes — a majority of 218 — on Tuesday. 

The change seeks to makes it more difficult for pension schemes to divest from arms and fossil fuel companies and those profiting from the Israeli occupation. 

The Labour Muslim Network (LMN) said this was an “attack on local Muslim communities’ right to organise peacefully on the issue of self-determination.”

Twenty-two Labour MPs broke the whip to vote against the amendment. 

One of the Labour MPs, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, used his speech to denounce Israel as “an apartheid state.”

LMN said the amendment was “not only a direct attack on Muslim communities’ right to organise peacefully on the issue of self-determination” but also “an attack on the freedom to campaign for any and all ethical investment — particularly in local authorities.”

Many Palestinians have long called for a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement to peacefully resist illegal occupation, apartheid and human rights abuses and this was a key strategy in support of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.

Former ANC minister and anti-apartheid campaigner Andrew Feinstein said today: “Having witnessed first-hand the crucial role that BDS played in ending apartheid in South Africa, I will continue to support BDS against apartheid Israel.

Mr Feinstein added: “Any local authority with a commitment to human rights, justice and the rule of international law should do likewise.”

LMN said it also considered the move to be “a breach of the Islamophobia definition and code of conduct passed last year by the Labour Party NEC.”