British court convicts Palestine protesters of violating police regulations

Two civil society leaders, Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham, were convicted in a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. The defendants, who are director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and vice chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, respectively, were found guilty of breaching protest guidelines during a pro-Palestine demonstration in London last year.

The charges stemmed from an incident where Jamal and Nineham allegedly failed to march within a designated area set by police. The pair were also accused of inciting other protesters to breach police conditions. Additionally, the Metropolitan Police had imposed conditions blocking the pro-Palestine march from gathering near a central London synagogue, citing safety concerns.

The verdict was read out in court, with Jamal and Nineham’s supporters present, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. In response to the ruling, Jamal’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign released a statement saying “the fight is not over” despite the decision being described as “a disgraceful decision”. Yasmine Ahmed, UK director of Human Rights Watch, stated that she believed the targeting of Jamal and Nineham was “political and intended to intimidate and silence dissenting voices”.

The court’s verdict has sparked concerns about the government’s powers to silence dissent through anti-protest laws. Human Rights Watch has reported on a “disproportionate targeting” of pro-Palestine protesters, which undermines the right to protest freely. A large-scale demonstration is expected to take place in London on April 11, with thousands of protesters having been arrested for signs reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”.

Source: Al Jazeera