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
Syrian media: A large number of Israeli occupation vehicles loaded with troops have entered west Ain Ziwan in the southern countryside of Quneitra.
Israeli media: An aid corridor will be established from al-Khadr to Sweida in the upcoming days.
Chinese Foreign Minister to his Brazilian counterpart: Beijing is ready to strengthen coordination with Brazil and work with BRICS nations to counter unilateralism.
Chinese Foreign Minister to Brazilian counterpart: Beijing ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with Brazil.
Chinese Foreign Ministry: Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation with his Brazilian counterpart.
Iranian Parliament's draft resolution in response to the E3's decision: Halting cooperation with the IAEA.
Iranian parliamentary draft resolution in response to the E3's decision: Iran to halt all talks with the US and European countries.
Iranian parliamentary draft resolution in response to the E3's decision: Iran to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Araghchi: We are ready to resume diplomatic negotiations on the nuclear program provided other parties show seriousness and goodwill.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: France, Germany and Britain do not have the legal mandate to automatically reimpose sanctions on Iran.

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

Gaza reeling under deadly strikes, rising famine amid Israeli siege

Former Biden security advisor backs pausing arms sales to 'Israel'

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

Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks (Photo by Mahdi Rtail)

Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks

  • Politics
  • 26 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025
Although it does seem likely they will launch some kind of operation in northern Gaza, one which will accelerate its mass murder of civilians, but will fail to achieve its stated objectives. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Here is why the Israeli occupation of Gaza won’t work

  • Opinion
  • 26 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People inspect a damaged petrol station hit in Israeli airstrikes on Sunday, in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, August 25, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Yemeni sources: Israeli propaganda false, airstrikes hit civilians

Emergency responders and residents gather at the site in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, after an Israeli drone explosion killed two Lebanese soldiers and injured another.
Politics

Israeli drone kills two Lebanese soldiers in Naqoura

Civil defence workers check for victims between the wreckage of a destroyed building that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, July 30, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Lebanese court to release dangerous convicted 'Israel' spy: Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime Minister's office in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, August 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu pushes plan for demilitarized zone from Golan to Sweida

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