Hundreds face terrorism charges simply for speaking out against injustice.

Since July 5, more than 1,500 people have been arrested in the UK for protesting the ban on Palestine Action. On September 6 alone, 857 peaceful protesters were detained in London. Over 100 have been charged under terrorism laws, facing the prospect of lengthy prison sentences. 

On September 2, seven spokespeople from Defend Our Juries (DOJ) were arrested in dawn raids. They were charged under the Terrorism Act for holding Zoom calls to brief activists ahead of planned protests. Six of them face up to nine years in prison. Despite these arrests, DOJ’s protest went ahead, with Amnesty International reporting police aggression against demonstrators.

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Rights under threat

The UK is bound by international law to protect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Restrictions must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate. Expressing support for Palestine Action does not meet the threshold for criminalisation. Peaceful protesters, including older adults and people from diverse backgrounds, are being treated as terrorists simply for expressing their views.

Why this matters

Prosecutions under terrorism laws carry devastating consequences. Even without convictions, people face stigma, surveillance, strict bail conditions, and barriers to education and work. Convictions create lifelong harm.

These cases risk silencing dissent across society and create a chilling effect on the right to protest.

You can write a letter in your own words urging the Directors of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Lord Advocate to:
• Uphold the UK’s human rights commitments.
• Drop all charges and stop prosecutions against people who took part in peaceful protests in
support of Palestine Action.

Write to:

Director of Public Prosecutions of England and Wales, Steven Parkinson
Email: [email protected]
Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, Stephen Herron
Email: [email protected]
The Lord Advocate, Rt Hon Dorothy Bain KC
Email: [email protected]

And copy:

His Excellency Robert John Tinline
High Commissioner
British High Commission140 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON K1N 5A2
Tel: (613) 237-1530 Fax: (613) 232-0738
Email: [email protected]

A Call for Action

These prosecutions harm people’s lives and create a chilling effect on free expression. Authorities must uphold the UK’s human rights commitments and end these unjust cases.

For more, visit the Urgent Action page.