UN experts urge UK not to label Palestine Action a terrorist group
A group of UN human rights experts has urged the UK not to designate the direct action protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, warning it would have a “chilling effect” on political protest and advocacy for Palestinian rights.
The UK formally began the process to ban the group under the Terrorism Act 2000 on Monday, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper laying a statutory instrument before parliament.
“We are concerned at the unjustified labelling of a political protest movement as ‘terrorist’,” the experts said. “Acts of protest that damage property, but are not intended to kill or injure, should not be treated as terrorism.”
The experts, who include Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Francesca Albanese, warned that individuals could face up to 14 years in prison simply for wearing clothing or organising meetings linked to the group.
Earlier today, police arrested two Palestine Action activists following protests targeting Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer whose UK sites have frequently been the focus of the group’s campaigns.
‘I do not feel like a terrorist’: Palestine Action member speaks
A member of Palestine Action has spoken out as the UK government moves to designate the protest group as a terrorist organisation.
“I do not feel like a terrorist but all of a sudden the government is debating whether we are a proscribed organisation,” an activist, who wished to remain anonymous, told Al Jazeera.
“We have a vote on Wednesday in parliament, and it’s difficult to be optimistic after 22 months of genocide – especially when the genocide is enabled by the very body that is proscribing us as terrorists.”
The statement comes as UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday laid the groundwork in parliament to ban membership and support for the group.
Despite the government moving to clamp down on the group, earlier today, Palestine Action targeted Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer whose UK sites have frequently been the focus of the group’s campaigns.
“We have hope courts will step in and prevent this unprecedented attack on civil liberties coming to fruition,” the activist added.
“If we get proscribed on Friday, the genocide will still be happening on Saturday. People aren’t willing to give up effective tactics… If they are able to destroy Palestine Action, then let a thousand Palestine Actions bloom.”
Corbyn says UK gov’t ‘doing everything it can to avoid scrutiny’ over Gaza
The former chief of the UK’s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, has compared the government’s stance on Gaza with the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
“Just like Iraq, the government is doing everything it can to protect itself from scrutiny. Just like Iraq, it will not succeed in its attempts to conceal the truth,” the now-independent MP told Al Jazeera.
Corbyn’s Gaza (Independent Public Inquiry) Bill is due to return to Parliament for a second reading on Friday, after passing its first reading on June 4. The bill calls for an investigation into potential UK complicity in war crimes.
But its chances of being debated are slim. A government whip is expected to block discussion in a procedural move that delays most Private Members’ Bills.
“We owe it to the Palestinians to not give up,” Corbyn added.
