Latest news with #terroristorganisation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Suffragettes Would Have Been Labelled Terrorists By Yvette Cooper', Ex-MP Claims
The Suffragettes would have proscribed if Yvette Cooper had been in the home office at the time, according to a former MP. Former Green leader Caroline Lucas called out the Labour government over its bid to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation at a party event this week. MPs voted in line with the government to put the group on a legal list of terrorist organisations earlier this month, after its activists targeted an Israeli defence company's UK base and an RAF centre. The move sparked concerns over the right to protest, with former cabinet minister and Labour peer Lord Hain even admitting he was 'deeply ashamed' of the move. Lucas – the former Brighton Pavilion MP, who served in the Commons for 14 years before stepping down at the last election – expressed her shock at the controversial decision on Thursday night. She said: 'There is a real concern now that a government that came into power promising so much has frankly delivered so little when it comes to people's expectations.' She continued: 'I don't think many of us expected Labour to proscribe Palestine Action.' 'Suffice to say that I am quite sure if Yvette Cooper was home secretary at the time the Suffragettes were active, they would have been labelled as terrorists and they would be banged up in prison for a lot longer than they were.' The Suffragettes were a group of female activists who campaigned in the early 20th Century to get the women's right to vote. Lord Hain made a similar comparison when speaking to the Lords earlier this month. He said: 'In 1969-70, I was proud to lead a militant campaign of direct action to disrupt all-white, racist South African rugby and cricket tours, and we successfully succeeded in getting them stopped for two decades. 'No doubt, I would have been stigmatised as a terrorist today rather than vilified as I was then.' He added: 'This government is treating Palestine Action as equivalent to Islamic State or al-Qaida, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled and morally wrong. Frankly I am deeply ashamed.' The government has previously defended the decision with home office minister Dan Jarvis telling the Commons: 'By implementing this measure, we will remove Palestine Action's veil of legitimacy, tackle its financial support and degrade its efforts to recruit and radicalise people into committing terrorist activity in its name.' Related... Labour Peer 'Deeply Ashamed' At Government's Decision To Ban Palestine Action All Eyes On Starmer After Macron Confirms France Will Recognise Palestine State Why Is The Government Proscribing Palestine Action As A Terrorist Organisation?
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Police arrest more protesters for supporting banned Palestine Action after seizing 29 people including 83-year-old priest last week
Several people have been arrested outside Parliament for supporting newly banned terrorist organisation Palestine Action. Around ten people were held by Metropolitan Police Officers next to a statue of Gandhi after they held placards which read: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' Those held were of mixed ages, from their 20s to 60s and many said they had jobs and had been arrested before. One protester, an architect called Steve, 59, said: 'In terrified. But some things in this world are bigger than fear of arrest. I will do whatever it takes to highlight this problem. 'They (the police) can do whatever they want. I don't care.' This Saturday is the second weekend Palestine Action supporters have protested and been arrested. A small group of protesters sat at the steps of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square for the demonstration, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries, shortly after 1pm and received a brief applause. The individuals then wrote the message 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' with black markers on pieces of cardboard and silently held the signs aloft, surrounded by Metropolitan Police officers, who formed a cordon, and members of the media. Around ten people were held by a group of Met Officers next to a statue of Gandhi after they held placards which said: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' A spokesperson for the Met police said: 'We are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action. Officers are in the process of making arrests.' This is the second round of protests in London in support of Palestinian Action and the group have said they will continue to take to Parliament Square every week. Last Saturday police arrested almost 30 people on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered in Parliament Square also holding signs supporting Palestine Action, just hours after a ban on the came into effect. Around two dozen people, including a priest, professor and an emergency care worker who is just back from Gaza, sat in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square on Saturday expressing support for the group, which is now a proscribed terrorist organisation. They held signs saying: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' Shortly after their arrival, police officers could be seen engaging with the protesters and the Met said it had began making arrests. Several people were seen being carried away by officers. A spokesperson for the force said: 'Officers are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square. 'The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence. Arrests are being made.' They later added: 'A total of 29 arrests were made during this afternoon's protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square. They remain in custody.' It comes after the Home Office today last week the ban on Palestine Action, with the group failing to block its proscription as a terrorist organisation in a late-night legal bid. Lawyers representing co-founder Huda Ammori, whose father is Palestinian, asked for the decision to be delayed at least until July 21. The designation as a terror group means that membership of or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Palestine Action argues it is a protest group that has never incited or encouraged violence, but does support civil disobedience. Activists protest against the continuing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians since October 7 - when 1,200 Israelis were killed by a Hamas incursion into the country. One of those protesting last week is former government lawyer Tim Crosland. He said: 'There are already 18 Palestine Actionists held in UK prisons without a trial, following lobbying by the Israeli government and Elbit Systems, the leading supplier of the machinery of genocide. 'If we cannot speak freely about the genocide of Palestinians, if we cannot condemn those who enable it and praise those who resist it, then the right to freedom of expression has no meaning, and democracy in this country is dead.'
