Journalism a ‘crime' in UK – RT reporter after detention
RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan revealed in a Telegram post on Wednesday that Sweeney had been apprehended on arrival at Heathrow Airport and interrogated at length about his work for the Russian broadcaster.
The British journalist, who has since returned to Lebanon, appeared live on RT on Thursday, saying that as soon as he got off the plane he was met by 'two plain-clothed police officers,' who took him away for questioning.
The officers told Sweeney that he was not under suspicion or arrest, but 'merely detained,' which still allowed them to seize his phones, laptop, and other devices, he recalled.
During the questioning, which lasted 'about four hours,' the officers were 'particularly focusing on Russia and my reporting for RT. They asked me whether I have links to Russian officials, which is a fairly... a broad description,' Sweeney said.
'Then they switch focus… to Lebanon. They were very interested in the nature of my relationship with Hezbollah, for example,' the journalist stated.
The officers also asked 'about my feelings towards my own country, whether I love my country, whether I feel uncomfortable in my country. Why do I come back to my country if I do not like it?' he recalled. According to Sweeney, he flew to the UK to 'spend a week with family and friends, take my daughter to a concert, [and] see my mother.'
The journalist said that following his detention, he could 'no longer feel safe in my own country.' As a result of the 'dystopian' policies pursued by the government of Keir Starmer, he has become 'a dissident living in exile,' simply because he was doing his job, he added.
'The political climate is not just the same in Britain – this is Europe-wide. You know, journalism is not a crime, but in those countries, journalism is a crime,' Sweeney stressed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
16 hours ago
- Russia Today
UK PM bans ‘ninja swords'
Ninja swords are now banned in England and Wales under new laws that came into effect on Friday, the UK Home Office has confirmed. Possessing one in public could lead to a prison sentence of up to four years. The change is part of a wider government effort to curb knife violence. Over 1,000 weapons were surrendered in July during a month-long amnesty campaign aimed at removing dangerous items from the streets, according to the Home Office. The ban follows a series of fatal knife attacks that have shocked the nation. In 2024, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana killed three girls and injured 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed children's recital in Southport. The attack reignited public anger and led ministers to promise tougher rules on online weapon sales, stronger age checks, and bans on certain bladed items such as zombie knives and machetes. In 2024, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said knife crime was at epidemic levels and promised to crack down on lethal weapons. He later confirmed ninja swords would be banned and said the government would deliver on its promises. The new law is part of 'Ronan's Law,' named after 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was killed in 2022 with a ninja sword. The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) said the ban will help reduce the presence of these weapons, especially in gang-related violence. The APCC also stated that it aims to explore why people carry knives and how to prevent it, adding that the ban gives police extra powers to seize such weapons and protect communities. Possessing a ninja sword at home carries a penalty of up to six months in prison, but that could rise to two years under a new Crime and Policing Bill currently being considered by Parliament. Knife crime in England and Wales has increased 87% over the past decade, according to official data issued by Britain's interior ministry and the Home Office. In the last year alone, almost 55,000 knife-related incidents were reported, a 2% rise from 2023.
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Russia Today
US and UK behind cyberattack on Aeroflot
US and UK intelligence services were behind this week's major cyberattack that disrupted operations at Aeroflot and other Russian companies earlier this week, a senior Russian lawmaker has claimed. Andrey Svintsov, the deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, has said the attack is part of a coordinated campaign by Western powers to damage the Russian economy after failing to achieve their objectives through military means and sanctions. Aeroflot, Russia's largest airline, was forced to cancel or delay dozens of flights on July 28 after pro-Ukrainian hacker groups claimed to have crippled the airline's internal IT systems. The cyberattack also disrupted airport operations and affected other companies, including a nationwide pharmacy chain. 'These are not isolated hackers, but a planned action by American and British intelligence agencies,' Svintsov told Russian outlet Abzats. He described the campaign as a 'systematic effort that is being carried out against Russia,' suggesting that it's a sign of desperation by the country's adversaries. 'This is a systematic approach by our Western enemies, who have failed to defeat Russia on the battlefield. They are moving to weaken the economic potential, since sanctions are not helping,' Svintsov said. He warned that cyber sabotage could continue until Russia achieves victory in the Ukraine conflict. In May, Defense Secretary John Healey said the UK would significantly increase cyber operations against Russia and China. He confirmed the creation of a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command, adding that 'the keyboard is now a weapon of war.' The Kremlin has urged Russian businesses to replace foreign-made software and hardware to reduce exposure to cyber threats. Last month, President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to accelerate import substitution. Hacker groups Silent Crow and Cyberpartisans BY have claimed responsibility for Monday's attack on Aeroflot. They claim to have been inside the airline's corporate network for over a year, stealing more than 20 terabytes of data and destroying around 7,000 servers. Communications regulator Roskomnadzor said the data leaks have not been confirmed. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has confirmed the cyberattack and opened a criminal case.
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Russia Today
Western media demonizes Russia – Zuma's daughter
Pan-African Parliament representative Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has dismissed Western criticism of Russia as deliberate propaganda. In an interview with RT, Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, said Western narratives deflect from what she described as efforts to 'rescue the world from unnecessary issues from the West.' 'They [Western news outlets] are just trying to make Russia an enemy, and I don't think that is correct,' she said. Zuma-Sambudla also criticized the continued military and political interference by Western powers across Africa, calling it a major obstacle to regional stability and self-reliance. Citing recent developments in West Africa and the Sahel, she described the withdrawal of French forces from countries such as Senegal as involuntary. 'They didn't pull out, they were asked to leave,' she said, arguing that this reflect a growing desire among African nations to 'resolve African problems alone,' free from external influence. 'We always have interference. And interference is actually what makes the problems even bigger.' Asked whether South Africa should continue to value its relationship with the US, Zuma-Sambudla questioned why it is still seen as a strategic partner. She noted that South Africa's liberation movement once asked the US for assistance during the Apartheid era, but received no support, in contrast to Russia, which provided aid. 'We [South Africans] cherish the Russian relationship, because when we asked for help, they helped us,' she said. Reflecting on leaders who have challenged the dominance of the US dollar, Zuma-Sambudla noted former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's push for a pan-African gold dinar. She suggested that proposals such as this may have played a role in his downfall. 'We're working on the BRICS currency, and all of a sudden, Putin is a problem. So, it's just a trend.' In the interview, Zuma expressed support for RT and criticized the South African government's decision to block the channel amid international sanctions on Russia. She pledged that her party, the uMkhonto weSizwe movement, would reopen RT's access if it comes to power.
