On 25 September FRFI supporters from Brighton and London mobilised at Brighton Magistrates’ Court for the plea hearing for our comrade Maya, who has been charged under the Public Order Act following her leading chants of ‘Victory to the Intifada!’ and ‘From the River to the Sea’ at a protest in February.
For two weeks local Zionists, led by the infamous Heidi Bachram, pressured Sussex police to identify and arrest Maya, attempting repeatedly to doxx her online. Eventually the police conformed, posting her photo on Facebook and accusing the comrade of a racially aggravated public order offence. She was then arrested at a subsequent protest on 14 March.
Throughout her time on bail, the police harassed the comrade, sending officers to her family and landlord, and entering her home without a warrant. Eventually in late July, she was charged under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 and section 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
Comrades mobilised in solidarity with Maya, drawing in local support from many organisations including Brighton PSC and Stop the War. We protested outside court, demanding the charges be dropped and calling out the political policing prevalent in the area, which also saw another one FRFI comrade arrested in May for a spurious allegation related to political placards.
In court Maya pled Not Guilty to the charges and a trial date was set for 25 March 2027. In a significant victory against the police and local Zionists, the previous bail condition which essentially excluded her from political activity in Brighton Town Centre was dropped, and despite the Crown Prosecution Service demanding strengthened conditions, the Magistrate granted unconditional bail until trial.
Intifada is a widely used Arabic term for uprising. We have used the slogan Victory to the Intifada in our political work for over 25 years and will strenuously defend the right to do so. FRFI comrades will also be supporting Haya and Azza from the SOAS Liberated Zone who, along with Abdallah, are in Southwark Crown Court on 1 December charged with a similar offence.
As Maya left court she was met with the support of dozens of protesters, showing that an injury to one is an injury to all. Brighton FRFI supporters will be organising a programme of action in the run-up to Maya’s trial on 25 March.
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