Latest news with #IanHislop
Evening Standard
5 days ago
- Politics
- Evening Standard
Chillingly, holding up a copy of Private Eye can now get you arrested
Well, it's quite the coup for Private Eye, isn't it? If you're a satirical magazine, there are two ways of showing that you're having an impact. One is to provoke Islamists to the point where they murder your staff, as in the case of the Charli Hebdo murders in Paris ten years ago, or the Danish cartoons of Mohammed, twenty years ago. The other is when police arrest individuals simply for holding up your front cover. And this is the startling situation faced by Ian Hislop, the editor of Private Eye.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Ian Hislop slams ‘mind-boggling' arrest of pensioner for holding up Private Eye cover at pro-Palestine protest
The arrest on terrorism charges of a 67-year-old man for holding up the front cover of Private Eye at a pro-Palestine protest is 'mind-boggling', Ian Hislop, the magazine's editor, has said. Pensioner Jon Farley, a former head teacher at a primary school, was arrested at a silent protest in Leeds on Saturday after police accused him of supporting Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation. The government voted earlier this month to designate the protest outfit a terrorist organisation after some of its members allegedly sprayed red paint at British fighter jets at RAF Brize Norton. The proscription afforded Palestine Action the same legal status as Isis, Al-Qaeda and far-right outfit National Action. The Private Eye cover held up by Mr Farley at the protest contained the words: 'Palestine Action Explained. Unacceptable Palestine Action: Spraying military planes with paint. Acceptable Palestine Action: Shooting Palestinians queueing for food.' At the bottom of Mr Farley's poster, the words 'Private Eye, no 1653' were written. West Yorkshire police arrested the pensioner under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000. He had never been detained before. '[Police officers] picked me up, grabbed me, and took me to the side, and I ended up sitting on the pavement,' the 67-year-old told The Guardian. 'I think that's when they said something about the placard. And I said: 'Well it's a cartoon from Private Eye. I can show you. I've got the magazine in my bag,' by which time, they were putting me in handcuffs.' A fellow protester later pointed out to the police that the latest edition of Private Eye was on sale at a nearby newsagents. Mr Farley spent six hours in detention being questioned by counter-terror police. He was allowed to leave under bail conditions that he refrain from attending 'Palestine Action' rallies. Mr Farley says he has never attended a Palestine Action rally, and it would be illegal to hold such a meeting. He pointed out that 32 Palestinians were shot while queueing for aid on the day he was arrested. He described the incident as evidence of a 'whole atmosphere of intimidation', adding that he believed the police were 'making up the law'. Mr Hislop, defending the front cover, said it was 'quite blatantly an example of freedom of speech'. Asked about the arrest of Mr Farley, he said: 'I did think it was mind-boggling. I mean, ludicrous. He obviously couldn't believe it and the immediate response in the office was that someone said: 'Well, the jokes have been criminal for ages.'' Mr Hislop described the cover as 'a very neat and funny little encapsulation about what is and isn't acceptable, and it's a joke about – I mean, it's quite a black joke – but about the hypocrisies of government approach to any sort of action in Gaza. 'So it's not difficult to understand. It's critical, but it is quite clearly a joke. Seems to me absolutely extraordinary that someone could be arrested for holding it up.'
Arab News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Magazine editor criticizes arrest of protester holding Private Eye cartoon at Leeds demonstration
LONDON: Ian Hislop, the editor of the UK's satirical magazine Private Eye, has condemned the arrest of 67‑year‑old protester Jon Farley, who was detained under terrorism laws for displaying a cartoon at a silent Gaza demonstration in Leeds. Farley, a retired teacher, was held under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act after holding a placard displaying a cartoon on Private Eye's front cover, which joked about the government's proscription of Palestine Action. Hislop slammed the arrest as 'mind boggling' and a 'blatant misunderstanding of satire,' noting that the cartoon was 'an example of freedom of speech' against a government policy, according to a report in local media. Hislop added: 'So, it's not difficult to understand. It's critical, but it is quite clearly a joke. (It) seems to me absolutely extraordinary that someone could be arrested for holding it (the cartoon) up.' Farley, a regular demonstrator, said he took the cartoon to a protest in Leeds after hearing that 32 Palestinians seeking aid had been killed by Israeli forces that day. He said: 'I saw it in Private Eye and thought, 'That's really well thought-out — it has nuance.' But I don't think the police do nuance.' Farley added that officers handcuffed him and escorted him into a police van before he could explain the placard's satirical origin. He was released six hours later without charge but under bail conditions barring him from rallies supporting Palestine Action, a group that the UK government classified as a terrorist group after it broke into a UK military base and vandalized military aircraft. Farley is among dozens who have been arrested since the ban for holding placards purportedly supporting the group. The retired teacher called for an apology and expressed concern over the 'murky lack of clarity' in the police's actions. West Yorkshire Police said it would review the incident, and acknowledged confusion following Palestine Action's designation as a proscribed organization earlier this month.
Middle East Eye
6 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Ian Hislop criticises arrest of man holding up Private Eye cartoon at Gaza protest
The arrest of a British man over the weekend for holding up a cartoon from Private Eye addressing the proscription of Palestine Action has been criticised by the satirical magazine's editor. Jon Farley was arrested by UK police on Saturday at a silent protest in Leeds after holding up the cartoon which joked that 'Spraying military planes with paint' was 'Unacceptable Palestine Action' while 'Shooting Palestinians queuing for food' was 'Acceptable Palestine Action'. He was arrested under section 12 of the Terrorism Act, which prohibits support for a proscribed organisation. Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye, told the Guardian that the arrest of Farley was 'mind-boggling'. Hislop said the cartoon was 'actually a very neat and funny little encapsulation about what is and isn't acceptable, and it's a joke about - I mean, it's quite a black joke - but about the hypocrisies of government approach to any sort of action in Gaza. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'So it's not difficult to understand. It's critical, but it is quite clearly a joke. Seems to me absolutely extraordinary that someone could be arrested for holding it up.' The UK government proscribed Palestine Action under anti-terror laws on 4 July, following an incident in which members broke into RAF Brize Norton earlier this month and spray-painted two planes they said were 'used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East". Farley told the Guardian that police officers grabbed him and took him to the side, before asking him about the sign he was holding. 'I said: 'Well it's a cartoon from Private Eye. I can show you. I've got the magazine in my bag,' by which time, they were putting me in handcuffs,' he said. 'It's critical, but it is quite clearly a joke. Seems to me absolutely extraordinary that someone could be arrested for holding it up' - Ian Hislop, Private Eye editor He said he was taken to a police station and questioned by counter-terrorism police, before being released six hours later under bail conditions that he attended no Palestine Action rallies. Farley said he had never attended such rallies, and that any such demonstration would be illegal under terrorism laws anyway. The new legislation has made membership of and support for Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison - the first time a direct action group has been proscribed in the UK as a terrorist group. UN experts, human rights groups, and leading figures have condemned the ban as draconian, warning that it will have adverse consequences for the freedom of expression and implications for the rule of law. Farley said he had received no apology or explanation since his arrest, and was left with minor bruises and cuts to his arm following the incident. West Yorkshire police said: 'We are sorry that the man involved is unhappy with the circumstances of this arrest. As this is a new proscribed organisation, West Yorkshire police is considering any individual or organisational learning from this incident.' 'High price for society to pay' Private Eye is one of the highest circulating magazines in the UK, selling over 200,000 copies per fortnightly issue. Its latest issue reported on Farley's arrest, criticising the police's actions. Palestine Action court case: UK decision makes it an 'international outlier' Read More » It said: 'As the Eye wrote in issue 1652: 'Some will argue that proscribing Palestine Action and extending the definition of terrorism to direct action groups that destroy property but don't aim attacks at the public - rather than using the current criminal law - is a high price for society to pay.' 'This was before the police decided to extend the definition of terrorism to include people cutting jokes out of satirical magazines that attempt to criticise the hypocrisies of government policy.' On Saturday, at least 55 people were arrested in London at a rally against the proscription of Palestine Action outside the UK parliament. They held up placards reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action" before police began bundling attendees into vans. Similar protests took place in Edinburgh, Cornwall and other parts of the country, also leading to arrests.
The National
6 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Ian Hislop slams terror arrest of man holding Private Eye cartoon
Jon Farley, 67, was arrested at a silent demonstration in Leeds on Saturday for holding a sign that made a joke about the proscription order, which appeared in the last issue of the fortnightly magazine. The cartoon read: "Unacceptable Palestine Action: Spraying military planes with paint. "Acceptable Palestine Action: Shooting Palestinians queuing for food." (Image: @MadocCairns, via Twitter/X) He was arrested by West Yorkshire police under the Terrorism Act, and was released six hours later after being questioned by counter-terrorism police. On Monday, police confirmed no further action would be taken against him and all bail conditions have been lifted. READ MORE: Led by Donkeys stage Gaza protest outside Labour Party HQ Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye, said the cartoon was "quite blatantly an example of freedom of speech on the subject of a government policy". Ian Hislop (Image: PA) He told the Guardian: 'I did think it was mind-boggling. I mean, ludicrous. He obviously couldn't believe it and the immediate response in the office was that someone said: 'Well, the jokes have been criminal for ages.'' Are Private Eye jokes now... criminal? PALESTINE Solidarity campaigner Jon Farley was arrested, bundled into a van and taken to the cells during a silent march in Leeds last weekend. What egregious act had prompted the police to act? He was, er, carrying a Private Eye joke piece… — Private Eye Magazine (@PrivateEyeNews) July 23, 2025 He said the cartoon was 'actually a very neat and funny little encapsulation about what is and isn't acceptable, and it's a joke about – I mean, it's quite a black joke – but about the hypocrisies of government approach to any sort of action in Gaza. READ MORE: British Army weapons systems causing brain damage in soldiers, MoD admits 'So it's not difficult to understand. It's critical, but it is quite clearly a joke. Seems to me absolutely extraordinary that someone could be arrested for holding it up," Hislop added. A spokesperson for West Yorkshire police said: 'We are sorry that the man involved is unhappy with the circumstances of this arrest. As this is a new proscribed organisation, West Yorkshire police is considering any individual or organisational learning from this incident.'
