As the continuing attacks on the right to stand in solidarity with Palestine play out in the media and on the streets, reverberations are also being felt in the courts. The courts are not impartial and the battle there to control the political narrative is the same.
On 7 May, the retrial of six of the Filton 24 (for an action against the British arm of Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems in 2024) led to four convictions for criminal damage and one for grievous bodily harm. An earlier trial concluded with a range of not guilty findings and no verdicts. The judge ordered at the retrial that they could not put forward defences of ‘necessity’ or committing a crime to prevent a greater crime, nor give the jury any information about atrocities in Palestine.
On 21 May, at Amersham Crown Court the ‘Grid 2’ – who were subject to none of these restrictions – were acquitted of criminal damage after 20 minutes jury deliberation, clearly demonstrating the importance of providing jurors with the full political picture.
The Filton 4 are currently remanded in custody awaiting sentencing on 12 June, and face the prospect that, although not convicted of terrorism offences, they could be sentenced as ‘terrorist connected’ due to a punitive legal measure introduced under the Sentencing Act 2020, which the overtly biased judge has made clear he is keen to invoke. The jury were not told about this before considering their verdicts.
The second Filton trial is due to begin on 15 June, the same day that the Court of Appeal will hand down its verdict on the proscription of Palestine Action. June will also see the start of the trial of the Moog 4, for direct action against an aircraft component factory in Wolverhampton.
On 22 June, our comrade Sarah of the SOAS 2 will be on trial at the Old Bailey, charged under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for a speech supporting the right of the Palestinian people to resist oppression by all means including armed struggle.
Among the many others waiting to face the British courts are Haya Adam, Azza Azaki and Abdallah Alanzi who will be at the Old Bailey on 21 July for a hearing related to their charges for using the phrase ‘Globalise the Intifada’.
Solidarity with all those who stand with Palestine!
