UK: 200 Arrested During Pro-Palestine Action Demonstration in London

SadaNews - On Saturday, London’s Metropolitan Police arrested at least 200 people during the largest demonstration in support of the group "Palestine Action", which was banned by the government last month under anti-terrorism laws.

The police stated they expect to detain more protesters in Parliament Square, while the organizers claimed that those arrested were only a "small part" of the hundreds who joined the protest.

However, the police regarded that a large number of those present in the square were onlookers and did not participate in the demonstration, confirming they would arrest "anyone holding a sign expressing support for Palestine Action."

"Our numbers are growing"

The event was organized by the group "Defend Our Jurors" as part of their escalating campaign under the slogan "Lift the Ban," aiming to overturn the government’s decision to ban "Palestine Action."

The group accused the police in a statement of interfering with their efforts to organize opposition to the ban, noting that the web hosting company had blocked their website during the week.

The group, which also organized a series of previous protests against the ban, stated that "unprecedented numbers" came out to participate in the protest, risking arrest and possibly imprisonment to "defend the longstanding freedoms in this country."

They said in their statement, "We will continue our movement. Our numbers are indeed growing in preparation for a new wave of events in September."

Protesters gathered near Parliament from noon, holding signs that read "Oppose Genocide, Support Palestine Action," along with other slogans, as they waved Palestinian flags.

Among the participants was Craig Bell, a 39-year-old psychotherapist who held a sign in support of the group.

Bell described the ban as "absolutely ridiculous," saying, "When you compare 'Palestine Action' to a real terrorist group that kills civilians and sheds blood, it seems like a joke to label them a terrorist organization."

As police officers moved to arrest demonstrators, some participants shouted at them, "Shame on you," and applauded those who were detained.

Richard Paul, 42, who came in a wheelchair, said, "Let them arrest us all. This government has crossed the line; there is nothing to be ashamed of in what I'm doing."

NGOs Opposing the Ban

Since the government announced the ban on "Palestine Action" on July 5, the Metropolitan Police and other security forces in the UK have carried out dozens of similar arrests over weekends.

Under UK anti-terrorism laws, anyone expressing support for a banned organization risks arrest.

This week, the police announced the first charges against three individuals in England and Wales for their support of the group during a demonstration held on July 5.

The decision to ban "Palestine Action" came after some of its activists stormed an airbase in southern England, causing damages estimated at around £7 million ($9.3 million) by spraying two military aircraft with red paint.

The Home Office indicated, prior to Saturday's protests, that members of the group are also suspected of involvement in "serious attacks" that included "acts of violence, serious injury, and significant criminal damage."

NGOs, including Amnesty International and Greenpeace, have strongly criticized the ban, considering it a legal overreach and a threat to free speech.

Sasha Deshmukh, the CEO of Amnesty International UK, sent a letter this week to London Police Chief Mark Rowley, urging restraint in dealing with those holding signs in support of the group.

The organization stressed that these arrests constitute a violation of international human rights law.

A British court is set to consider later this year the legal challenge against the classification of "Palestine Action" as a terrorist organization.