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Original poster

Peter Tatchell Arrested - Outrageous

283 replies

Everanewbie · 28/05/2025 11:54

AIBU to be outraged my Peter Tatchell's latest arrest?

For those who have not heard, the famous campaigner attended a recent Gaza protest. He held a placard that demanded Israel stop the genocide, and that Hamas are a shameful, and reiterated their official terrorist status for the torture an execution of a Palestinian man that attended an anti-Hamas demonstration in Gaza. He was arrested on the basis of inciting racial and religious hatred. The police have since apologised indicating that they believed him to be part of a counter-protest. He spent 5 hours in a cell.

OP posts:
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ParmaVioletTea · 28/05/2025 13:10

AnSolas · 28/05/2025 12:09

The bloke who thinks its fine for adults to have sex with minors?
And took to twitterX to complained when a UK LA cleared bushes in a park beside a playground on the basis it stops (mainly) men engaging in public sex acts?

🤷‍♀️

Those were my first thoughts when I saw news of his arrest.

BUT - I then reflected that those views had nothing to do with his lawful protest against Hamas, who are, after all vicious butchering murderous Jew-hating terrorists.

I think we need to be very careful not to expect people to have fully aligned views. Tatchell's protest against Hamas was truthful and lawful. It isn't diminished by his repulsive views on underage sex.

Although his views on underage sex might make him a repulsive person, even repulsive people can make a legal political protest about something else.

Arglefraster · 28/05/2025 13:09

This Peter Tatchell? "Not all sex involving children is unwanted, abusive & harmful" 🤢

Peter Tatchell Arrested - Outrageous
AhhFreakOut · 28/05/2025 13:08

Everanewbie · 28/05/2025 12:39

Does a placard stating "Stop Israel genocide! Stop Hamas execution!" warrant arrest? Take PT out of it.

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Tatchell has form for 'glossing over the facts', so his apparent arrest JUST for that - I'll take with a pinch of salt.

It's a shame he was only locked up for 5 hours.

MrsKeats · 28/05/2025 13:07

You need to do some research op.

Brefugee · 28/05/2025 13:06

far from experiencing sympathy, i am indulging in an over-abundance of Schadenfreude.

Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.

Original poster
Everanewbie · 28/05/2025 13:06

Shedmistress · 28/05/2025 13:03

What did the placard actually say OP?

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“STOP Israel genocide! STOP Hamas executions! Odai Al-Rubai, aged 22, executed by Hamas! RIP!”

OP posts:
PetaltotheMedal · 28/05/2025 13:05

Everanewbie · 28/05/2025 12:20

This post is not intended to discuss PT’s views or his past. Only the fact that he was arrested for his placard. Play the ball not the man.

Why are you so keen to brush aside Peter Tatchell's views or his past @Everanewbie ?

What brought him to your attention in the first place?

Original poster
Everanewbie · 28/05/2025 13:04

Agrumpyknitter · 28/05/2025 13:00

I initially voted YANBU but now reading other posters have changed my vote to YABU. In view of his past, in my opinion I think his protest was performative to gain him some attention so YABU.

That is an interesting take. One that I hadn't considered. If it were performative, and attention seeking, then it does change my view on this to an extent. But even so, if it were deliberate attempt to highlight police overreach then, well I support that.

OP posts:
Shedmistress · 28/05/2025 13:03

Everanewbie · 28/05/2025 13:00

He was arrested based on the secondary message on his placard that proscribed terrorist organisation should stop executing political opponents.

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What did the placard actually say OP?

MrTiddlesTheCat · 28/05/2025 13:02

He was arrested for being an odious twat, so the mistake the police made was letting him go. His placard and the comments he's made make it clear his purpose at the protest was to goad other protesters into reacting. They reacted, he was arrested, he got what he wanted.

tuvamoodyson · 28/05/2025 13:01

They should have forgotten where they’d put the key…he’s vile.

ArabellaScott · 28/05/2025 13:01

Thegreyhound · 28/05/2025 12:59

The dislike of Peter Tatchell is so predictable.

I am old enough to remember the absolutely notorious Bermondsey election in 1983 where he was shamefully dragged day and night by the media and by his opponents on the basis of his sexuality (one of whom, Simon Hughes, was actually a closeted gay man himself) It was a dreadful chapter and the fact that Tatchell got through it at all is bloody impressive.

I also like that he sticks to his guns re human rights abuses and will call out both the genocidal Israeli government and the appalling Hamas.

Mumsnet, a website for mothers, is not keen on a paedophile sympathiser. Earth shattering.

Agrumpyknitter · 28/05/2025 13:00

I initially voted YANBU but now reading other posters have changed my vote to YABU. In view of his past, in my opinion I think his protest was performative to gain him some attention so YABU.

PetaltotheMedal · 28/05/2025 13:00

nolongersurprised · 28/05/2025 12:52

No - me neither. Tatchell is that man who reported that some children experienced “great joy” when having sex with adults - I.e. paedophilia is good, actually.

He has been hiding in plain sight for years

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This.

RampantIvy · 28/05/2025 13:00

Everanewbie · 28/05/2025 12:39

Does a placard stating "Stop Israel genocide! Stop Hamas execution!" warrant arrest? Take PT out of it.

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Quite frankly I, and it seems none of the other posters, care what happens to him.

You are obviously very young to have never heard of him and his horrible opinions before.

Original poster
Everanewbie · 28/05/2025 13:00

AzureShark · 28/05/2025 12:58

So conflicted.

Appalled that they arrest people for protesting the Gaza Genocide.

But on the other hand, behind bars is where PT should be...so on balance, I'm alright with it.

He was arrested based on the secondary message on his placard that proscribed terrorist organisation should stop executing political opponents.

OP posts:
Thegreyhound · 28/05/2025 12:59

The dislike of Peter Tatchell is so predictable.

I am old enough to remember the absolutely notorious Bermondsey election in 1983 where he was shamefully dragged day and night by the media and by his opponents on the basis of his sexuality (one of whom, Simon Hughes, was actually a closeted gay man himself) It was a dreadful chapter and the fact that Tatchell got through it at all is bloody impressive.

I also like that he sticks to his guns re human rights abuses and will call out both the genocidal Israeli government and the appalling Hamas.

ArabellaScott · 28/05/2025 12:59

Everanewbie · 28/05/2025 12:47

I don't like the idea that the Police can arrest someone based on a single, apparently baseless complaint, whilst espousing a reasonable views (I don't agree that Israel are committing genocide, but that's his view), and hold them for more than 5 hours. In isolation, I'd read, tut, and move on. But in the light of recent cases like the school governors that were held for 11 hours for privately calling a headteacher a control freak, and the girl violently arrested for saying an officer looked like her lesbian aunt, I am getting more and more worried about the police' threshold for arrest, even if no further action is brought.

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I agree that recent arrests over what are arguably free speech issues are concerning. I'll always be concerned that our rights to freedom of expression are protected. And yes, that goes for the most odious people (and views I'd personally disagree very strongly with). Freedom of speech and expression has to count for everyone, not just those we agree with.

I'll be honest, though, I do find it hard to muster outrage over this. PT has been a professional protestor/activist for many, many years. He's been arrested many times. The police have been put in some very difficult situations where they are surrounded by people making inflammatory and possibly illegal remarks/threats/speeches.

GreenSedan · 28/05/2025 12:58

I can't get upset about it. The man's an absolute prick.

AzureShark · 28/05/2025 12:58

So conflicted.

Appalled that they arrest people for protesting the Gaza Genocide.

But on the other hand, behind bars is where PT should be...so on balance, I'm alright with it.

Original poster
Everanewbie · 28/05/2025 12:57

AnSolas · 28/05/2025 12:50

If memory serves me he was a supporter of the ideology of women and men being recorded on the police system and subjected to harrassement and arrest for noncrimes hate crimes ( that is having and expressing an ¹lawful opinion that was different to his ideology )

So is it a shame if swings and roundabouts happen when you encourage the police to make up their own version of the law? 💅

If he wants proper law and order to be applied without bias he needs to recognise he and his "side" were happy for the police to over reach when it allied with his ideology.

And "baseless" he was arrested in public so I am guessing the arresting officer had a reason for the act (even if the seniors/ CPS did not agree).

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Thanks for your post. If he has promoted non-crime hate incidents then there is an element of poetic justice being a victim of police overreach/ineptitude/two tier policing. But it doesn't change the fact that in the instance, the conduct of his arrest has worrying implications.

OP posts:
3peassuit · 28/05/2025 12:57

I’ve no sympathy whatsoever for that man.

MarkingBad · 28/05/2025 12:56

A good act or attention seeking for personal gain. Some activists like PT know the value of an arrest wrongful or not

Motnight · 28/05/2025 12:56

The man's a prick, Op, most people therefore can't see past his problematic and widely reported views concerning the rape of children.