Palestine Action has a new political prisoner, after Shaby Aziz received a two-year sentence at Manchester Crown Court on 13 December. Shaby is one of the Ferranti 3, who in June 2021 occupied the roof of Elbit’s Ferranti factory in Oldham, Greater Manchester, which made imaging technology for Israel’s killer drones. The actionists went on to dismantle equipment at the factory, causing £500,000 in damage. The Ferranti plant closed down in 2022.
The judge in the case, Bernadette Baxter, was particularly unsympathetic, ruling out all defences pre-trial, and referring to the disruption of Ferranti’s ‘perfectly lawful business’ at sentencing.
The second convicted actionist, Ali, who on arrest said, ‘They are killing children, they have killed my family’, received a two-year suspended sentence, with 300 hours unpaid work, and £1,200 costs.
In court, about 30 supporters cheered and applauded them, shouting ‘Free Palestine!’
There are now 21 Palestine Action political prisoners, though only two of them, including Shaby, have been convicted, with the remainder awaiting trial.
Palestine Action supporter
