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.”

.

Here you go

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations--2/proscribed-terrorist-groups-or-organisations-accessible-version

If you think that there should be a Basque country, then you are expressing the opinion of a terrorist group and could be arrested.

A line has to be drawn somewhere. Does she know why she's holding that sign? She thinks she does. If the protestors went about their business without threatening slogans, carrying out other criminal acts, there wouldn't have been the need to put them on the terrorism list. All these people are doing is pushing the limits.

This is worrying.

Were the police overstepping or is this actual law.

there is a big difference between being a member of a proscribed group or promoting that specific group and direct action to just holding similar opinions about thier cause.

It looks like there are a lot of groups linked to Northern Ireland terrorism on there - so if you share an opinion that the IRA share - or if you share an opinion that the Loyalist Volunteer Force share, then you could be arrested.

They've been expressing it for 19 months. They should be blaming the violent faction, for getting them arrested.

Ireland should be united.

That's me arrested.

Northern Ireland should be part of the UK

That's also me arrested

You really are trying to simplify all of this. It's too complex for that.

Is it because she said Free Palestine or the genocide bit? Or both?

No it's not.

Expressing an opinion about the conflict does not mean you should be arrested for expressing support of a terrorist organisation.

I am sure you can see the difference between expressing a shared opinion and expressing support for that organisation

What's amazing to me is so many here have little understanding of the actual Troubles and what went on in NI but are experts in the ME!

Are you suggesting that there's no genocide happening in Gaza and that everything Israel is doing is just fiiiine?

The government has come down hard on this and is leaving no grey areas. It has my support. Too many Jewish people are living in fear because of of these protests. What are these people hoping to achieve, except cause mayhem? They know what has been decided with regards to PAG, so expect more arrests.

This is not about what's happening in Gaza - or else this thread will be derailed.

It's about what you can and cannot say in public without threat of arrest under the Terrorism act

What's that got to do with the arrest?

So you think that anyone who says "Free Gaza" should be arrested under the terrorism act?

Sheesh. Your thread title says it is. You're conflating things here. I've answered your OP. YABU.

Apparently we are supposed to stay silent about tiny babies, women and children being starved to death, blown to pieces and torn apart from loved ones. Otherwise we are anti Semitic or terrorist supporters.

I agree - this thread is about what you can and cannot say without fear of arrest under the terrorism act.

You seem to think that anyone saying "Free Gaza" should be arrested under the terrorism act

So you think anyone saying "Free Gaza" should be arrested.

I guess you also think anyone saying "Ireland should be united" should also be arrested - it's the same logic.

You know not everyone in Gaza is aligned with Hamas right?

Or does that detail not fit into you black and white vision?

Freedom of speech should be no negotiable. And yes, sometimes that will mean hearing things you don't like. Boo fucking Hoo

So you think anyone saying "Free Gaza" should be arrested.

wasn't it a sign? or was she arrested for saying it?

I guess you also think anyone saying "Ireland should be united" should also be arrested - it's the same logic.

Some people did think that people saying that were terrorists back then...

It was a sign

That shouldn't make any difference

The threatened arrest was " expressed views supportive of Palestine Action, which was banned under terrorism legislation earlier this month"

"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.”

I think that officer needs retraining.