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Palestinian Arabs

Bianca Jagger Demands UK Government Upholds Freedom of Speech Amid Gaza Genocide

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As a human rights defender and mother, Bianca Jagger cannot remain silent while witnessing the genocide and starvation of the Palestinian people. She will be holding a sign in Parliament Square reading "The UK Government is in flagrant violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights," which guarantees freedom of expression. UN human rights chief Volker Türk has stated that the proscription of Palestine Action protest group under terrorism legislation is an impermissible restriction on rights under international human rights law.

Key Takeaways:

  • Since the proscription of Palestine Action came into force on July 5, hundreds of people have been arrested for holding up peaceful signs motivated by their concern for the genocide in Gaza.
  • At least 83-year-old Reverend Sue Parfitt has been arrested while attending a demonstration in Parliament Square, describing the ban as "total nonsense" and a "loss of civil liberties in this country."
  • UN human rights chief Volker Türk has expressed concerns that the UK's counter-terrorism legislation misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism to expand its boundaries and conflate protected expression with acts of terrorism.
  • Amnesty International has written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, stating that arresting protesters would be a violation of international law and urging officers to comply with the UK's international obligations.
  • Evidence suggests active and sustained cooperation between the UK and Israeli armies, including over 500 surveillance flights around Gaza since December 2023.
  • The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy & World Human Rights has written a paper stating that the UK military has carried out numerous surveillance flights with Israel, sharing intelligence.

Statistics:

  • Hundreds of people have been arrested since July 5 for holding up peaceful signs motivated by their concern for the genocide in Gaza.
  • Over 500 surveillance flights have been carried out around Gaza since December 2023, shared with Israel by the RAF.
  • At least 600 flights have been made by RAF Shadow aircraft over the Palestinian territory from the Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus in an attempt to locate the remaining hostages held by Hamas since December 2023.

Sources:

  • Bianca Jagger
  • UN human rights chief Volker Türk
  • Amnesty International
  • European Association of Lawyers for Democracy & World Human Rights
  • The Independent

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