Amnesty International has called on the Metropolitan Police to exercise restraint ahead of a planned demonstration in London this Saturday, where protesters are expected to show support for the banned activist group, Palestine Action.
The warning follows recent arrests under the UK’s Terrorism Act, with three individuals—two women and one man—facing charges for allegedly supporting the proscribed organisation during a central London protest on 5 July. The accused, all from different parts of the country, are due to appear in court on 16 September.
Since the UK government banned Palestine Action last month, counter-terrorism police have charged 10 individuals across the country under various sections of the Terrorism Act 2000. A total of 221 people have been arrested in connection with alleged offences ranging from membership of a banned organisation to displaying material deemed to indicate support.
Among the arrests, 58 were linked to encouraging or arranging support for the group, while 162 were detained for wearing clothing or displaying articles—such as flags or logos—considered likely to show affiliation with the organisation.
Despite the ban, a protest in support of Palestine Action is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Parliament Square. The demonstration, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries, is expected to draw over 500 attendees, who have been encouraged to carry placards declaring their opposition to genocide and support for the group.
The Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism chief has cautioned attendees about the potential legal consequences of expressing support for a proscribed organisation. Police have confirmed that further case files from the July arrests are being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service.
Amnesty International has sent a letter to Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, urging officers to respect international obligations on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The organisation expressed concern that arresting individuals solely for displaying support messages could constitute a breach of human rights protections under international law.
The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced the proscription of Palestine Action in June, following a major security incident at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Activists were accused of causing £7 million in damage to military aircraft, prompting the government to act on cross-departmental security advice.
The government has clarified that the ban targets the specific activities of Palestine Action and does not interfere with broader public protests in support of Palestinian rights. Officials have stated that the decision was made due to security risks and ongoing legal concerns linked to the group’s actions.
Amnesty has reiterated that peaceful protest must be protected, and it continues to urge authorities not to criminalise individuals who engage in lawful demonstrations or express political opinions without inciting violence.
