Two civil society leaders in the United Kingdom have been found guilty of breaching protest conditions during a pro-Palestine demonstration in London last year. Ben Jamal, 62, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and Chris Nineham, 63, vice chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, were convicted at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday for failing to comply with police-imposed conditions that required the protest to remain within a designated area in central London and avoid the surroundings of the British Broadcasting Corporation's headquarters on January 18, 2025.
The judges' summary stated that "both defendants clearly knew the conditions, given their organising roles and involvement in planning the demonstration." Jamal was additionally convicted on two counts of inciting other protesters to breach police conditions, with the court noting his speech constituted "a suggestion, persuasion and inducement" to do so. The public gallery was filled with supporters, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, as the verdict was delivered.
Reacting to the ruling, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign called it "a disgraceful decision" and asserted that "our right to protest is precious, and is undermined by this decision, but the fight is not over." Yasmine Ahmed, UK director of Human Rights Watch, criticized the verdict, stating it "will send shockwaves through civil society" and alleging that "the targeting of Ben and Chris is political and intended to intimidate and silence dissenting voices" regarding the UK's support for an Israeli government responsible for international crimes. She added that the verdict exposes the regime's "alarmingly repressive anti-protest laws" and is "a black mark on British democracy."
Further tensions are anticipated as crowds are expected to gather again in London on April 11 to demonstrate support for Palestine Action, a direct action group whose activists have faced arrests. Since Israel's war on Gaza began in October 2023, tens of thousands of Britons have rallied in support of Palestine, with thousands of peaceful protesters arrested for signs opposing genocide. Human Rights Watch has reported a "disproportionate targeting" of pro-Palestine protesters, undermining the right to protest freely.
Source: www.aljazeera.com