On 31 January a supporter of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) was arrested for allegedly ‘expressing support for a proscribed organisation’ under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000. According to the police, the arrest related to comments made by the supporter during a speech at a protest held at SOAS University of London in October 2023 in support of the Palestinian people and against the brutal onslaught by the Israeli state on Gaza. A video of her speech was shared on Twitter/X 19 October by Zionists who called for her arrest. She has been released on bail. No charge has been brought in this matter at present. If any charge is laid, we will strenuously contest this in court.
The arrest is politically motivated, and its purpose is to intimidate supporters of Palestinian liberation. Any charge under this legislation would depend on proving that supporting the Palestinian resistance means supporting a ‘proscribed organisation’. It would also call into question United Nations resolution 37/43 of 3 December 1982 and the Geneva Conventions, which explicitly give the Palestinian people the right to resist occupation by all available means.
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2 February 2024
