Terrorism Powers Exploited to Investigate Palestine Action Activists

London - The arrest of Palestine Action’s Filton 10 activists under terrorism laws for disrupting the supply chain of arms being used in a genocide is an egregious assault on campaigners and marks a significant escalation by the state in defence of Israel.
 
Terrorism legislation undermines due process protections and leads to an abuse of process. This case is a vivid illustration of the erosion of rights as the activists were detained for an entire week without charge.  
 
Counter Terrorism Policing South East were unable to charge the Filton 10 under terrorism legislation, but through back door legal provisions, they will now attempt to ensure harsh terror-related sentences for alleged offences that would never meet the threshold to be charged under terrorism.
 
Naila Ahmed, Head of Campaigns at CAGE International, said:
 
“The Filton 10 case represents a shocking exploitation of Counter Terrorism Policing and Legislation to protect companies who are guilty in aiding and abetting a livestreamed genocide in Gaza.
 
Twenty years of calling for the abolition of terrorism laws has shown us the gradual expansion of these powers to erode the freedoms of all. We are now at the point where the CPS is actively seeking to add terrorism as an aggravating sentencing factor for anti-genocide campaigners.
 
We stand in solidarity with the Filton 6, and the right to protest and disrupt the supply lines of companies actively aiding and abetting genocide."

photo by @Pal_action