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.”

It seems obvious to me that what Israel is doing to people of Gaza is a war crime or as bad as war crimes. Is it illegal for me to say that? Is it anti-semitic to say that? I don 't care about the respective religions. I'm upset about tens of thousands of Palestian children & hundreds of thousands of innocent adults having horrible lives & lives damaged/killed.

am so confused about what is legally permitted to say about Israel actions in Gaza strip.

Two wrongs doesn't make a right. October 7th attacks were horrible crimes too. One set of horrible actions (October 7th) doesn't justify another set of horrible actions (what Israel has done since). Two wrongs doesn't make a right.

I think the police will be asking Mumsnet for your details

“She” would get a bit of a shock if she popped into Gaza

That's what I am trying to say - we are not allowed to express in public what is happening and how we feel about it. In what supposed democracy is that acceptable?

I hope this will not stand up in court. It's no different to what is happening in the US right now, and we can all see where that is going.

As soon as things become enshrined in law the room for manoeuvre, nuance and common sense judgement goes out the window, for good and ill, I feel.

Titter.

I think this would be laughed out of court. I don't even think the CPS would prosecute.

I wonder what training the police got on this?

I sincerely hope you are correct.

She's just another Thunberg looking for attention. I can only laugh at their pitiful attempts to make a shred of difference in a conflict they have no skin in.

So what. Expressing an opinion does NOT mean you are expressing an opinion supportive of a terrorist organisation,

The law says it does. Why aren't you understanding that? It doesn't matter whether you think it's fair or not. Laws are there to govern conduct.

Perfect comparison.

I believe Ireland should be united and free from British occupation. To arrest me for that view would be unhinged.

Meanwhile, here in the North of Ireland actual paramilitaries stake their claim over new build housing estates by hanging the flags of proscribed organisatjkns - mainly the UVF and UDA. No one gets arrested. For fucks sake a kids summer camp just got cancelled because the local loyalist paras got wind that some children who were members of a GAA club were due to attend. No arrests.

Fuck this complete misuse of policing, these Draconian laws, and while I'm at it. Free Palestine.

Free Israel's hostages.

No it doesn't

Do you understand the difference between expressing an opinion and expressing an opinion supportive OF a terrorist group?

If someone said "They support the IRA", then they are expressing an opinion supportive of a terrorist organisation.

If someone said "Ireland should be united", then they are expressing an opinion that is the same as that shared by a terrorist organisation

Which of those statements is illegal under the Terrorist Act?

I'm really done with going round in circles with you. Other posters have seen sense and ignored the thread. I'm looking forward to seeing tomorrow's arrests because that's been a long time coming. Show support for a cause that seeks to kill Jews and expect to get arrested. It's as simple as that. Shame the idiots don't see how they are being used.

This dudes protest has nought to do with Palestine. It’s all far left performance

but I do agree that the police over stepped. But I think that is more a case of poor police training rather than properly implemented government policy

all the training budget was probably spent on pronoun training so not all a bad outcome in this particular situation

You are not going around in circles.

I bet you can't quote the law that says expressing an opinion that is SHARED by a terrorist organisation is against the law.

Saying Free Gaza is not "Show support for a cause that seeks to kill Jews and expect to get arrested."

Why do you think that?

That did actually happen during the coronation: a group of people peacefully protesting with 'Not My King' posters were arrested and bundled into a van.

There was also a tourist from Australia (iirc) who had come over to enjoy the celebrations, who had the misfortune to be standing near to the peaceful protesters, and she was arrested and shoved in the van too.

Bad enough that peaceful protest could get you arrested; but apparently, standing on a street in a part of London that's near to where a group of protesters is also standing is enough to implicate you in sympathising with their (yet again, totally peaceful but potentially embarrassing to the monarchy) beliefs.

What next? Will they be saying that Hitler ate bread, so if you do the same, you must be a staunch supporter of everything that he believed in?

People who want mass arrests for people who say Free Gaza really don’t want to create a more peaceful world. Cracking down hard on people who are upset at the killings of civilians won’t help

There's another group who don't want a peaceful world, either. This is why I'm finding all of this staggering. You don't even see it. Crack on.

i agree free Gaza is not in itself a terrorist call to sction

what is your view on “to the river to the sea Palestine will be free”?

I think that on the other hand is much more problematic

Sorry but this is nonsense