No tracking. No cookies
Subscriptions
Subscriptions
Support our mission to provide fearless stories about and outside the media system
Packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, and features
The arrest of seven leading activists from the ‘Lift the Ban’ campaign against the proscription of pro-Gaza group Palestine Action – now designated a ‘terror’ organisation – has been damned as ‘chilling’ by the Liberal Democrats and the human rights group Amnesty International.
Speaking to Byline Times, the Lib Dems called for a review of the controversial law which outlawed the direct action group, members of which are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June this year to sabotage aircraft they believed were destined to assist Israel’s war on Gaza.
The alleged participants were arrested under existing laws, but Home Secretary Yvette Cooper rushed out the designation of Palestine Action as a ‘terrorist’ group shortly after, meaning supporters of the organisation can now land over a decade in prison.
Don’t miss a story
The Liberal Democrats have now added their calls to warnings from Amnesty International after counter-terrorism police arrested seven of the ‘Lift the Ban’ campaign’s key spokespeople in ‘dawn raids’ in London, Cumbria and Yorkshire on Tuesday morning, over Lift the Ban protests, under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Today the Daily Mail and The Sun both have front pages dedicated to attacking an alleged assault on free speech in the UK, focusing on the arrest of Father Ted writer and anti-trans activist Graham Lineham over allegations of inciting violence. The Mail claims Britain is becoming “North Korea” while The Sun says the UK is “f*cked”. But they do not mention the arrests of pro-Gaza campaigners.
Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is in the US, seemingly calling for sanctions on the UK by Donald Trump to push Keir Starmer to repeal the Online Safety Act, which he claims is undermining free speech.
The Lift the Ban campaign is being spearheaded by Defend Our Juries, a group initially set up to defend climate campaigners from the likes of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil facing criminal action.
DoJ founder Tim Crosland was arrested just hours before he was due to hold a press conference announcing that the mass action against ‘terror’ ban on Palestine Action will proceed in Parliament Square on Saturday 6 September from 1pm. At least 1,000 people have now pledged to hold signs saying ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’ this weekend, according to the group.
Over 700 people have now been arrested opposing the Palestine Action ban, including 500 at the last demonstration outside Parliament Square. More than 100 of them have now been formally charged for peaceful protests shortly after the ban came into force. The vast majority of attendees were sitting down holding cardboard signs. Defend Our Juries hopes to make the ban on PA untenable given the scale of potential arrests.
Palestine Campaign Group Says It Has Been ‘De-Banked’ by Virgin Money With ‘£10,000 Trapped’
EXCLUSIVE: Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine says their account was frozen without explanation days after Palestine Action was proscribed, preventing aid donations from reaching Gaza
Defend Our Juries has said its ‘mass action’ will go ahead on Saturday despite the ‘targeted arrest’ of key spokespeople.
The arrests include young law student Paddy Friend, who was due to speak at the press conference alongside Tim Crosland. You can see a video of his arrest here.
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs Lisa Smart, told Byline Times: “The arrest of these campaigners under terror laws, following hundreds of arrests under the same powers last month, is deeply alarming. If charged, they could face up to 14 years in prison simply for expressing support for Palestine Action.
“The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of a liberal democracy – this sets a dangerous precedent and risks a chilling impact on free speech and legitimate protest.”
Smart added that the arrests were “exactly what we warned about when the Conservatives expanded terrorism powers in 2018.” The Lib Dems abstained on the actual ban on Palestine Action however, partly as the same legislation outlawed two neo-Nazi Russian terror groups.
Smart added: “This Labour government has adopted the Conservative playbook instead of defending people’s right to peaceful protest.
UK Gaza Families Urge Starmer to Hold Israel Accountable for Press Killings
A group representing 350 Palestinian families living in Britain have called on the PM to condemn Israel’s ‘systematic assault on the press’ and back an inquiry
“There’s no doubt that those using violence, antisemitic abuse, or hate speech must face serious consequences, but these crimes are already covered by existing law.”
She reiterated the Lib Dems’ call for an “urgent review” of police powers in light of the arrests.
Amnesty International has launched a global campaign condemning the arrests of Lift the Ban campaigners, the hitting out at the raids on their homes as “a blatant attempt to muzzle freedom of speech” and a “terrifying example of the UK authorities’ willingness to use authoritarian practices to silence dissent”.
Calling for their immediate release, Amnesty describes the arrest of the spokespeople for the campaign to Lift the Ban on Palestine Action as “a clear violation of international law”.
Amnesty says the launch of its global campaign against the apparent clampdown on protest in the UK is unprecedented, with this being the first time the UK will be the subject of a global Amnesty International “urgent action” about the right to protest.
Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan, Head of Operations for the Counter Terrorism Command at the Met Police, said: “These arrests have been made as part of an ongoing investigation into people we suspect have been involved in encouraging support for the proscribed group Palestine Action.
“We know there is a great strength of feeling towards the situation in Palestine and thousands have been able and continue to be able to express their views through protest and demonstrations, without breaking counter terrorism laws.
“But Palestine Action is clearly proscribed as a terrorist group, and those showing support for this particular group, or encouraging others to do so can expect to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted.
“There are serious consequences for those who are found guilty of an offence under the Terrorism Act, so I would urge anyone considering showing public support towards to this proscribed group to reconsider.
“Those arrested have been taken into police custody, where they currently remain and enquiries remain ongoing.”
Update: An earlier version of this piece said five Lift the Ban activists had been arrested. Defend Our Juries say the actual number is seven. The Met Police say it is six, though this may not include one person arrested in Scotland (who is understood to have been charged under anti-terrorism legislation). We are seeking clarification. We’ve also added that two protesters were arrested in total in Cumbria and Yorkshire.
Got a story? Get in touch in confidence on josiah@bylinetimes.com
Subscribers Get More from JOSIAH
Josiah Mortimer also writes the On the Ground column, exclusive to the print edition of Byline Times.
So for more from him…
