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By The Cradle
Counterterrorism police in the UK arrested five members of Defend Our Juries (DOJ) in dawn raids on 2 September, just hours before the group was due to announce details of a mass protest in London.
The press conference, which had been set to confirm that the threshold for Saturday’s action had been met, was postponed until Wednesday after UK police raided the homes of the five DOJ spokespeople, including former government lawyer Tim Crosland and law student Paddy Friend.
DOJ said those detained were “key spokespeople,” including former government lawyer Tim Crosland and law student Paddy Friend. Witnesses reported that Friend was arrested under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for hosting a Zoom call with campaign members.
A DOJ spokesperson described the arrests as “scandalous” and an “unprecedented assault on free speech,” accusing counterterrorism police of targeting individuals perceived as organisers.
“No one has been arrested for joining the Zoom calls – only the hosts – and we will be holding another Zoom call tonight ahead of our action on Saturday,” the spokesperson added.
Amnesty International condemned the home raids as “incredibly concerning” and a violation of international law. Kerry Moscogiuri, director of campaigns at Amnesty International UK, said the group’s peaceful protests were protected by human rights conventions, warning that participants face prison terms of up to 14 years.
Despite the arrests, DOJ confirmed that Saturday’s mass action will proceed, with expectations of up to 1,500 participants.
The group has urged protesters to refuse compliance with the police “street bail system” used during an earlier action on 9 August, arguing that authorities cannot process 1,000 non-compliant detainees in a single day.
Unlike the August protest, which was limited to one hour, the DOJ said the upcoming action will continue “indefinitely.”
Authorities have charged 114 people under terrorism offences linked to Palestine Action since the UK government proscribed the group on 4 July. At least 500 people, most of them over the age of 60, were arrested at the DOJ Parliament Square protest on 9 August.
The blacklisting of Palestine Action places the group on the same legal footing as Al-Qaeda and ISIS, making it a criminal offence to show support or invite support for the campaign.
Across Europe, governments have escalated restrictions on Palestinian solidarity.
In Germany, authorities have banned Palestinian gatherings and carried out violent crackdowns on demonstrations. In Berlin alone, around 600 people were arrested within 10 days after 7 October 2023. Police tactics included mass detentions, the use of force, and the confiscation of Palestinian symbols, with even the kufiyye treated as grounds for arrest.
France attempted blanket bans, later overturned in court, while Italy’s police assaults on students drew condemnation. Riot police in the Netherlands demolished student encampments, while Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium moved to forcibly disperse protests.
Spain remains a rare exception, allowing large marches with limited interference.
Despite systemic crackdowns and growing risks to protesters, demonstrations of solidarity and resistance across Europe remain active and continue to draw large numbers.
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