to think that just because you say something about Israel and Gaza does not mean that you should be threatened with arrest under the terrorism act?

[cakeorwine]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/17/armed-police-threatened-to-arrest-kent-protester-for-holding-palestinian-flag

She had a sign saying "Free Gaza" and "Israel is committing genocide"

She was threatened with arrest under the terrorism act because a certain group that has been deemed to be a terrorist group also share those same views - and therefore the lady was supporting a terrorist group.

In the encounter, which she filmed, one officer told her: “Mentioning freedom of Gaza, Israel, genocide, all of that all come under proscribed groups, which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government.”

He went on to say that the phrase “Free Gaza” was “supportive of Palestine Action”, adding it was an offence “to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Palestine Action is an offence under section 12(1A) of the Terrorism Act”. The officer told her she had committed that offence.

I can think of many groups who share those same beliefs. Having that belief does not mean you support that group.

A Kent police spokesperson said: “Under the Terrorism Act it is a criminal offence to carry or display items that may arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action.”

This government are very draconian. They seem to be erasing freedom of speech and the freedom to protest. Arresting elderly ladies and people holding up signs is not a good use of police time.

That video is amazing.

Saying they are concerned about their safety as someone could take offence.

Saying that they are expressing an opinion supportive of a prescribed organisation.

I think they got that wrong - they are sharing an opinion that the prescribed organisation also shares.

People have become so anti Israel that they have become pro terrorist.

Ooh another goady thread about Israel.

Do you think saying "Free Gaza" means you should be threatened with arrest under the terrorism act?

This is NOT about Israel.
This is about what you can and cannot say in public without the threat of arrest under the terrorism act

I couldn’t agree with you more OP. This is horrifying. The sign she was holding didn’t proclaim support for the proscribed organisation. What’s happening in Gaza is genocide.

Has anyone seen the BBC Verify article on the BBC website today showing the areas of Gaza that have been razed to the ground and are being bulldozed over? It’s worth reading if you have a strong stomach and if you put your hand over your mouth to stop yourself from screaming in disgust, disbelief and horror.

Yes, actually I do. Fuck around and find out; that person found out. Ignorance is no excuse and there is plenty of ignorance in this conflict.

Why do you think that?

What offence have they commited?

It was the Tories who brought in the anti protest law. I don't condone labour continuing it though.
There's a hell of a difference between Hamas and a few people opposing tens of thousands of people being killed.

This is not about the conflict

It's about the police reaction to a sign and saying they were expressing an opinion in support of a prescribed organisation.

They weren't. They were expressing an opinion that is shared by a prescribed organisation

Sharing views that are the same views as a proscribed organisation do not make you a terrorist: that’s ridiculous and illogical. We’re in 1984 territory here.

What you mean aside from aligning with a terrorist group? These useful idiots have pushed the boundaries for 19 months. Now they are being curtailed. Rightly so.

Of course it's about the conflict.

I think the exact opposite to you. You can say or do absolutely anything offensive, racist or inflammatory in public, without any repercussions at all - like the rap duo at Glastonbury who led the cries for " death to the idf " or kneecap waving hamas flags. Caveat being, you must be on the ' right' side of gaza/Israel. So as long as your pro Palestine, all's good.

Let's say there was a group that wanted to get women to have the vote and used bombings to do that.
They could have been called a terrorist organisation.

If someone had a poster saying "Votes for women", then they could be arrested by the police because they had an opinion on votes for women that is shared by a terrorist group that also wanted votes for women.

No

It's about what you can say in public.

If someone said "Ireland should be united", should they be arrested if the IRA were a proscribed group - because the IRA believed that.

And nor does it make you supportive of a proscribed organisation

massive police overreach - what are they going to do, arrest 1000s of people protesting in London tomorrow? I think they are actually wrong in the case of this woman and have misunderstood the ruling, but it's still a bad sign.

I'm Jewish and I worry that this kind of thing will lead to worse antisemitism as people start spreading the idea that all Jews want to sweep everything that's happening in Israel under the rug and hamper free speech. I'm concerned that the Pal Action ruling is designed to try and stamp out any criticism of Israel

Look, PAG have been proscribed as terrorists. These are the idiots, who immobilise military aircraft. Are they any better than the other hard left thugs, Antifa? They all know exactly what they are doing and what line they are crossing. I've sympathy of the zero kind. Juliet Stevenson lookalike can stand there looking as gormless as she wants. I've got no time for it.

No, of course not. It’s not only draconian, it’s nonsensical.

I don't believe we should have a Monarchy.

It's a good thing there isn't a terrorist group who believe the same - or else I could be arrested for holding a sign saying "Not my King"

You're not answering the question.

I agree that immobilising military aircraft is wrong - and I am supportive of them being proscribed.

However, the thread is about what someone can say in public without being told they could be arrested under the terrorism act.

@Dangermoo So what are ordinary citizens who are appalled by what they see happening in Gaza supposed to do? Why can’t they express their outrage at the genocide?