- Hundreds of peaceful protesters in London were arrested under terrorism laws for holding placards saying “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” following the UK government’s decision to ban the group.
- Rights groups and public figures warn the crackdown represents a dangerous erosion of democratic freedoms, as a High Court judicial review prepares to challenge the legality of the ban.
A wave of arrests in Parliament Square has ignited fierce criticism and widespread concern over civil liberties, as hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were detained merely for holding placards stating ”I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” This follows the UK government’s controversial decision to designate the activist group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation under sweeping counter terrorism laws.
Mass Arrests at Parliament Square
On August 9, according to the Metropolitan Police, at least 466 people were arrested during a silent “Lift the Ban” protest organised by Defend Our Juries—described as one of the largest mass arrests in recent memory. Some accounts report that this number later rose to over 500 or even 532.
Protesters held placards stating “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,” drawing the ire of authorities enforcing the proscription of the group.
Civil Liberties Advocates Sound Alarm
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, Greenpeace, and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the arrests as a disproportionate assault on democratic freedoms—especially freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) flagged concerns about “heavy-handed policing” that could undermine public confidence in human rights protections.
Civil rights groups have formally called for prosecutions to be suspended pending a judicial review slated for November 2025, asserting that proceeding now risks inconsistent legal outcomes and deeper rights violations.
Personal Stories of Activists Arrested
Among those arrested were seniors, including a blind man, people in their 80s, artists, retired professionals, priests, and former military officers—many of whom described the experience as traumatic and unjust.
Deborah Hinton, 81, a former magistrate, was detained for seven hours—fingerprinted and DNA-swabbed—and is now re-evaluating the erosion of democratic norms.
Chris Romberg, 75, and a former military officer, likened the crackdown to stifling of dissent: “Now a statement of support for a non-violent direct action group is prosecuted under anti-terrorism legislation.”
Peter Hain, anti-apartheid campaigner and ex-cabinet minister, criticised the government for equating peaceful civil society with terrorism: “Digging itself into a hole.”
Legal Pathway and Upcoming Judicial Review
Palestine Action, represented by co-founder Huda Ammori, successfully secured the right to a judicial review challenging the legality of its proscription. The High Court ruling, issued earlier this month, will assess whether the ban unlawfully limits civil liberties.
Rights groups urge that prosecutions be paused until the review’s outcome is clear, to avert potentially irreversible harm to those arrested for peaceful expression.
The arrests of protesters in London—many simply holding placards declaring “I oppose genocide”—have set off alarms over the state of civil liberties in the UK. Detaining seniors, artists, clergy, and ordinary citizens under terrorism legislation for peaceful dissent has prompted legal challenges, human rights interventions, and questions about the proportionality and political motivation behind the government’s approach. As the judicial review looms, the balance between national security and democratic rights is under intense scrutiny.
