UK pro-Palestine activist re-arrested weeks after initial release on bail

A 21-year-old woman, Qesser Zuhrah, has been arrested in Watford, near London, on suspicion of intentionally encouraging a crime and promoting terrorism. The arrest occurred after she posted an Instagram story that allegedly encouraged people to take direct action.

Zuhrah, who is a pro-Palestine activist, was released on bail last month after being detained in late 2024 as part of the “Filton 24” collective, which is accused of raiding an Elbit Systems UK factory in Filton, near Bristol, on August 6, 2024. The incident was claimed by Palestine Action, a group that aims to counter Israeli war crimes and British complicity in them.

The High Court had previously ruled that the UK’s ban on Palestine Action as a “terror” group was unlawful, but this ruling remains in place pending an appeal by the home secretary later this month. Zuhrah was released from prison in February after spending 15 months without a conviction, following a hunger strike to protest against the ban.

In a statement, Herfordshire Police confirmed that a 21-year-old woman was arrested and is currently in custody. The police did not name Zuhrah or provide further details on the charges. Campaigners supporting Zuhrah have expressed concerns about her treatment by authorities, including allegations of mistreatment while she was in prison.

The advocacy group CAGE has stated that the arrest is part of a broader effort to repress pro-Palestine activists in the UK. The group’s representatives have called for urgent action to address concerns about freedom of expression and the criminalization of political dissent.

Source: Al Jazeera