On September 6, 857 protesters were arrested in London, with more than 700 others arrested for similar offenses in London and across the UK on previous weekends, for peacefully opposing the ‘Palestine Action’ ban. Approximately 114 have since been charged with terrorism-related offenses under the UK’s counter terror legislation and more charges are threatened. On September 2, seven Defend Our Juries spokespeople were arrested in dawn raids and face sentences of up to nine years, for their part in organizing these peaceful protests. Amnesty International calls on the relevant authorities to drop the existing charges and take no further action against these and any other individuals arrested and charged simply for the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
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PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: November 30, 2025
Dear Directors of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Lord Advocate,
Since the ban against ‘Palestine Action’ came into effect on July 5, over 1,500 people have been arrested across the country for acts of peaceful protest opposing the proscription. Most of these arrests have followed protests organized by Defend Our Juries (DOJ). As of September 8, approximately 114 individuals across the UK have been formally charged with terror-related offenses.
On September 6, during DOJ’s second mass protest, 857 peaceful protesters were arrested. The London Metropolitan police put out a statement claiming there was a coordinated violent effort by protestors against the police. In response, Amnesty International put out a statement calling this a misrepresentation. Amnesty International observers who monitored the protest witnessed episodes of police aggression, including protesters being violently shoved and batons being drawn.
Under international human rights law, any restriction on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate to achieving a legitimate aim. Criminalizing speech in this context is only permitted when it incites violence, hatred, or discrimination. Expressing support for Palestine Action does not meet this threshold. Therefore, I urge you to uphold UK’s human rights commitments and drop the charges and not pursue prosecutions against all those who participated in peaceful protests in support of ‘Palestine Action’.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
Other Urgent Actions for this Case
- First UA Issued: [United Kingdom 77.25]
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