Scots activists speak out as Palestine Action ban reviewed

The Herald Scotland

4 hours ago

Davidson, who is a senior figure in the Scottish [[Palestine]] Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), said: 'There is a very clear approach that has been taken by police up and down the UK. People have been arrested for wearing t-shirts and others have been challenged by police over [[Palestine]] flags and anti-Israel placards.
'Some of our members are more at risk when it comes to anti-terror legislation, and we've informed them of this. Of course, any risk we might take is nothing in comparison to what Palestinians are going through.'
Protestors gathered in London ahead of the ban. (Image: Lucy North / PA) Davidson was one of several high-profile activists who were surveilled by police during US President Donald Trump's visit to Scotland last week.
According to video evidence viewed by The National the force carried out daily bail checks at Davidson's address, as well as those of others.
She told The Herald: 'It was a bit scary. I have a young daughter at home. I feel like I've disassociated at times, this isn't the country and the values people say they hold.'
Davidson also hit out at Keir Starmer's plan to recognise the State of [[Palestine]] in September if [[Israel]] does not take steps to provide humanitarian aid and end the war in Gaza.
She said: 'It's consistent with Keir Starmer's approach to this. He seems to believe that the inalienable rights of Palestinians, such as food, water, and self-determination, are dependent on Israel. That is not the case.
'An entire classroom of Palestinian children have been killed every day since the start of the war. If a classroom of Israeli children were being killed every day, there's no way Starmer would have given Israel a month's notice.
'The two-state solution only maintains the status quo. Meanwhile, Israel is taking more land and killing more people. Palestinians need the killing to stop.'
Keir Starmer has said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state if Israel does not end the war in Gaza by September. (Image: Toby Melville/PA Wire) Last month, Palestine Action was proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000 after causing £7m of damage to two jet planes at RAF Brize Norton. This means that expressing support for or being a member of the group is a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
During the TRSNMT festival last month, a 55-year-old man was charged under anti-terror legislation for allegedly wearing a t-shirt bearing the message "Genocide in Palestine Time to Take Action,' which had been produced by the SPSC.
According to reports, the words 'Palestine' and 'Action' were in a larger font than the other text.
SPSC spokesperson Mick Napier said: 'We put this T-shirt out because we wanted to use the furore around the ban to draw attention to the genocide. The T-shirt is not about Palestine Action, it's about genocide.'
'We're getting a substantially different response from the public even than two months ago. The atrocious actions in Gaza are burning deep into the national and international psyche.'
On July 18, a 64-year-old man was arrested in Glasgow under the legislation for allegedly holding a sign bearing the same words. Police officers had asked the man to put the sign away, but he is alleged to have refused.
And three men were arrested in Edinburgh for 'showing support for a proscribed organisation' in two separate incidents on July 19 and July 21.
Leading charities have raised the alarm over the risk of famine in Gaza. (Image: AP) More than 200 people have been arrested across the UK on suspicion of expressing support for Palestine Action since the ban came into force.
Davidson told The Herald: '[The proscription] is having a knock-on effect. It doesn't happen in a vacuum.
'The Scottish Government needs to do more. They released a statement calling for a ceasefire very early on, but have yet to call the conflict a genocide. Not to mention, they continue to fund arms companies through Scottish Enterprise.'
Meanwhile, a High Court judge has ruled that [[Palestine]] Action will be allowed to challenge their proscription at a full judicial review of the Home Office's decision in November.
Mr Justice Chamberlain rejected calls by the group to lift the proscription order ahead of the review, which means Palestine Action remains a banned organisation.
Read more:
Court bid to block Palestine Action being designated as terror group fails
Glasgow man arrested over 'Palestine Action poster in window'
Home Office welcomes Palestine Action ban as it comes into force
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We have a legal duty to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest.
'It is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 to be a member of a proscribed organisation or to invite or express support for them.
'This includes wearing clothing or carrying any item in public in such a way as to arouse suspicion that they are a member of, or a supporter of a proscribed organisation.
'We are working closely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Where police consider there is a sufficiency of evidence, they submit reports to the Procurator Fiscal.
'The fiscal will then consider whether there is enough evidence in law and decides what action, if any, to take in the public interest.'