Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local Syrian sources: An Israeli airstrike targeted a tank and artillery battalion in the city of Izraa in the Daraa countryside
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in eastern Lebanon: 12 martyrs and 5 wounded in Israeli raids targeting the outskirts of Wadi Fa'ra in the northern Bekaa Valley
Local Syrian sources: More than 10 Israeli raids targeted Sweida, with information about more than five casualties from the Internal Security Forces
Local Syrian sources: Initial reports indicate that approximately 15 people were killed or wounded at the al-Radwan family's guest house in Sweida following a direct exchange of gunfire
Israeli media, citing Israeli political sources, reported that the Shas movement is expected to withdraw from the government within less than 24 hours
Qatari Foreign Ministry: Negotiations to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are still in the first stage. We are continuing our efforts around the clock
Channel 14, citing a senior Israeli political source, reported: The attacks in Syria and Tel Aviv's offensive policy are coordinated with the Americans
Lebanese Ministry of Health's Emergency Operations Center: Six injured as a result of Israeli airstrikes on the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon
Israeli media: The Israeli Air Force has launched a wave of large-scale attacks on southern Syria
UNRWA: One in 10 children in Gaza suffers from malnutrition

Crackdown in London: 29 arrested over Palestine Action signs

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian
  • 6 Jul 2025 12:32
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Health workers, clergy, and academics were among those arrested as the UK faces backlash for using terror legislation to silence dissent over the Israeli war on Gaza.

Listen
  • x
  • Police scuffle with demonstrators during a protest by the Palestine Action group in London, Monday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
    Police attack demonstrators during a protest by the Palestine Action group in London, on Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

In an escalating crackdown on political dissent, 29 activists were arrested in central London on Saturday for holding signs referencing the recently proscribed group Palestine Action, just a day after the UK government officially designated the group a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000.

The arrests took place during a peaceful protest organized by Defend Our Juries, a civil liberties campaign group. The demonstration occurred near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, with participants, among them clergy, academics, and healthcare professionals, holding placards that appeared to show support for Palestine Action.

Around 1:40 pm local time, Metropolitan Police officers began arresting individuals, citing suspicion of offenses related to supporting a proscribed group, a charge now punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

By Saturday evening, police confirmed that 29 people remained in custody. The Metropolitan Police, in a statement posted on X, asserted, “Palestine Action is a proscribed group and officers will act where criminal offences are committed.”

Palestine Action has led direct action campaigns targeting companies linked to the Israeli occupation's arms industry, particularly Elbit Systems, a major weapons manufacturer. The group's methods have included protests and property defacement, tactics the UK government has now reframed as terrorism.

Civil liberties groups sound alarm

Defend Our Juries issued a sharp rebuke of the police operation, accusing authorities of weaponizing anti-terror laws to silence peaceful protest. A spokesperson for the group condemned the response as disproportionate and draconian.

“We commend the counter-terrorism police for their decisive action in protecting the people of London from some cardboard signs opposing the genocide in Gaza and expressing support for those taking action to prevent it,” the group said sarcastically.

Related News

Netanyahu deflects blame as Gaza war drags with no clear military goal

Al Mayadeen's correspondent injured in an Israeli strike on Gaza City

The group had reportedly informed Met Commissioner Mark Rowley in advance of the demonstration, underscoring the nonviolent nature of the action.

Among those arrested was Tim Crosland, a human rights lawyer and member of Defend Our Juries.  Crosland told The Guardian, “What we’re doing here as a group of priests, teachers, health workers, human rights lawyers [is] we’re refusing to be silenced... We oppose genocide – I didn’t think that was that controversial – and we support the people who resist genocide.”

He added pointedly, “In theory we are now terrorist supporters and can go to prison for 14 years, which is kind of crazy.”

Fears of a democratic "red line"

Prominent environmental campaigner Donnachadh McCarthy warned that the government's move sets a dangerous precedent for civil liberties, saying, “To proscribe an organisation of peaceful direct action as terrorists is a huge red line for our democracy.”

McCarthy further warned that redefining nonviolent property damage as terrorism risks criminalizing decades-old traditions of civil resistance, from anti-apartheid actions to climate activism.

He called out Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper for failing to oppose the move, describing her stance as “an outrageous betrayal of democracy, liberalism, and what is in my view a step towards fascism.”

"We are losing our civil liberties"

Retired priest Sue Parfitt, 83, also among the demonstrators, described the ban as an existential threat to democratic freedoms.

“This is a very dangerous move that has to be challenged... We are losing our civil liberties, and we must stop that—for everybody’s sake. Whatever you want to protest about.” 

Her words echoed a growing concern among legal experts and activists that the Palestine Action proscription is being used as a test case to further restrict public protest and dissent, especially around issues linked to "Israel's" genocide in Gaza.

Read more: UK arrests 4 in crackdown on Palestine Action over RAF incursion

  • Gaza Strip
  • Palestine Action
  • Britain
  • pro-Palestine protest
  • Palestine
  • crackdown on dissent
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • Gaza
  • Pro-Palestine

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned
Politics

Exclusive: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

Rutte, Trump
US & Canada

Trump threatens 100% secondary tariffs on Russia, sets deadline

Syrian government soldiers on a motorcycle pass by a burning tank on the outskirts of Sweida city, where clashes erupted between the Druze community and Bedouine clans, in southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli airstrikes target Syrian military factions near Sweida

Lebanon, US, disarmament
MENA

US pressure on Lebanon grows over Resistance disarmament plan

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS