Latest news with #LauraMurton
The Guardian
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
A compilation of terrorists, by Blake Morrison
If Laura Murton is guilty of terrorism for holding a Palestine flag (Armed police threatened to arrest Kent protester, 17 July), she's in good company. The Greenpeace ship crew arrested for piracy. The Commies on a blacklist for McCarthy. An 80-year-old who caused a 'public nuisance'. The Tiananmen Square guy standing up to tanks. Five eco-freaks blocking a motorway. Two Swedish women glued to a Monet. Women campaigning to close a Migrant Removal Centre. Bostonians throwing tea-chests in the harbour. Wheelchair-users fighting cuts against Medicaid. Nelson Mandela battling apartheid. Anti-Putinites spoiling papers at the ballot. A mass of trespassers on Kinder Scout. John Lennon returning his gong to the Queen. Martin Luther King and I have a dream. The gay man removed from an LGBT parade. Crowds in Minneapolis when George Floyd died. The anti-oil lobby with its slogan Just Stop. Weevils on trial for ruining a barley crop. Gandhi on his salt march, Rosa Parks in her bus. Emily Davison below the King's horse. Jamal Khashoggi, Martin Luther, Wat Tyler, Ned Ludd, Alexei Navalny, Alan Turing, Joan of Arc, Robin Hood. The naked woman sharing an apple with her mate. The deity who put it out there to eat. The tree surgeon who scaled Big Ben. Three men spraying paint at Brize Norton. Hundreds of Gazans at a food MorrisonLondon
Middle East Eye
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
ICJP writes to UK authorities over woman threatened with arrest for opposing genocide
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has written to a local police authority and the UK Home Secretary, demanding a formal investigation as to why a woman was threatened with arrest on terror charges for holding up anti-genocide signs, after rejecting that she supported proscribed organisations when asked. ICJP said armed police threatened peaceful protester Laura Murton, 42, for holding a Palestinian flag and having signs saying 'Free Gaza' and 'Israel is committing genocide'. She was threatened with arrest under terrorism laws, despite not saying anything or holding any signs that denoted support for any proscribed groups. When explicitly asked if she supported any proscribed organisations, she replied 'I do not.' ICJP said on Friday that it had brought a formal complaint to Kent Police, asking for clarity regarding the conduct of officers who attempted to make unfounded allegations against Murton for her protest. It also asked the Home Secretary for clarity on what guidance the Home Office has issued to police officers regarding protests that do not relate to Palestine Action, a group that was recently proscribed by the UK government. "This incident represents the sought chilling effect on speech and assembly of those who wish to speak out against Israel's violations of international law, that arises from misuse and misinterpretation of terror laws since the proscription of Palestine Action," ICJP said. It accused UK authorities of misusing the ban "to police the support for Palestine more generally, and any opposition to Israel's genocide in Gaza".
The National
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Legal complaint filed after Kent police threaten woman with Palestine flag
On Thursday, The National reported how one officer told Laura Murton, 42, that mentioning "freedom of Gaza, Israel, genocide" fell foul of terrorism laws. The Guardian reported that she was confronted by police in Canterbury, Kent, who accused her of expressing support for the proscribed group Palestine Action. When asked whether she supported any proscribed organisations, Murton replied: "I do not." READ MORE: Police drop investigation into Kneecap Glastonbury performance, band says Murton said she had no signs mentioning Palestine Action. Kent Police confirmed that no further action was taken. On Friday, lawyers from the International Centre for Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) filed an official legal complaint with Kent Police over the incident. In a letter sent to both Kent Police and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the ICJP demanded a formal investigation be opened into why Murton was threatened with arrest on terror charges despite explicitly rejecting support for proscribed organisations when asked by officers. The ICJP noted that Murton had no material in her possession that "made any reference to Palestine Action or any other proscribed organisation". "It is of deep concern that Kent Police officers appear to regard anti-war statements and the Palestinian flag as evidence giving rise to a reasonable suspicion of a terrorism offence," the letter went on. "This is not only an alarming misinterpretation of the Terrorism Act, but also a stance that is offensive to Palestinians and their supporters and fundamentally incompatible with objective, lawful policing." The ICJP said that the incident "represents the sought chilling effect on speech and assembly of those who wish to speak out against Israel's violations of international law". The legal organisation added: "As expected, the ban is being misused to police the support for Palestine more generally, and any opposition to Israel's genocide in Gaza." The terror group designation for Palestine Action, brought in by the Labour Government earlier this month, means that membership of or support for the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Condemning Israeli actions in Gaza or showing support for Palestine does not automatically create any connection to a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action. READ MORE: Police Scotland issue terror charge for man with 'Palestine Action poster in window' The ICJP said that opposition to war crimes and calls for accountability under international law are not grounds for suspicion under the Terrorism Act. The group pointed to the High Court ruling in the judicial review concerning the proscription of Palestine Action, in which Justice Chamberlain stated: "'It will remain lawful for the claimant and other persons who were members of the PA [Palestine Action] prior to proscription to continue to express their opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza and elsewhere, including by drawing attention to what they regard as Israel's genocide and other serious violations of international law. "They will remain legally entitled to do so in private conversations, in print, on social media and at protests.' The ICJP urged Kent Police to issue a formal apology to Murton, as well as a public statement to provide assurances "that terrorism legislation will not be misapplied to peaceful protesters". In addition, the group called on Kent Police to immediately review and revise their training and guidance for officers regarding the use of terrorism legislation, and to initiate a formal investigation into those involved in the incident. The ICJP also requested clarity from the Home Secretary on what guidance the Home Office has issued to police officers regarding protests that do not relate to Palestine Action. READ MORE: RECAP: Activist arrested at protest in support of Palestine Action in Glasgow A Kent Police spokesperson had previously told The Guardian that "it is a criminal offence to carry or display items that may arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action". However, after being contacted by The National, the force said that officers had attended and "having ascertained no offences had been committed, no further action was taken". Both Kent Police and the Home Office have been approached for comment.
Arab News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Protester in UK threatened with arrest by armed police over Palestinian flag
LONDON: British armed police threatened a peaceful protester with arrest under the Terrorism Act after accusing her of supporting Palestine Action, the activist group that was banned earlier this month. Laura Murton, 42, held signs saying 'Free Gaza' and 'Israel is committing genocide' at the demonstration in the city of Canterbury, The Guardian reported on Thursday. Officers told her that she had expressed views supporting Palestine Action. Neither of the signs held by Murton mentioned the group by name. Murton, who filmed her encounter with the armed police officers, asked whether she supported any banned groups and replied: 'I do not.' One officer told her: 'Mentioning freedom of Gaza, Israel, genocide, all of that — all come under proscribed groups, which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government.' He added that the phrase 'Free Gaza' expressed support for Palestine Action. The government's proscription of the group means it is an offense to express support for it and is punishable by law. The officer accused Murton of committing that offense, and said she would be arrested unless she provided her name and address, which she did. Murton told The Guardian: 'I don't see how anything I was wearing, how anything I was displaying, anything I was saying, could be deemed as supportive of the proscribed group. 'It's terrifying. I was standing there thinking, this is the most authoritarian, dystopian experience I've had in this country, being told that I'm committing terrorist offenses by two guys with firearms. 'I ended up giving my details, and I really resent the fact I had to do that because I don't think that was lawful at all.' Lawyer's representing Palestine Action's co-founder, Huda Ammori, said in court submissions that the group's proscription would likely produce a 'wide chilling effect on speech and assembly of those seeking to speak out against Israel's serious violations of international law.' One of the officers who confronted Murton said: 'We could have jumped out, arrested you, dragged you off in a van.' The police were 'trying to be fair' in dealing with her, he added. Murton said she was motivated to protest because 'day to day, people are getting killed (in Gaza), and I can't handle that … I can't handle sitting and doing nothing.' Amnesty International UK's law and human rights director, Tom Southerden, described the footage as 'very concerning.' He added: 'We have long criticized UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. This video documents one aspect of exactly the kind of thing we were warning about.'
The National
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Kent armed police threaten woman for holding Palestinian flag
One officer told Laura Murton, 42, that mentioning 'freedom of Gaza, Israel, genocide' fell foul of terrorism laws and accused her of expressing support for the banned group Palestine Action, The Guardian reports. She was confronted by police in Canterbury, Kent, and when asked whether she supported any proscribed organisations, Murton replied 'I do not.' Murton said she had no signs mentioning Palestine Action. In the encounter, which she filmed, one officer said: 'Mentioning freedom of Gaza, Israel, genocide, all of that all come under proscribed groups, which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government.' He goes on to claim that 'Free Gaza' is 'supportive of Palestine Action', adding it was an offence 'to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Palestine Action is an offence under section 12(1A) of the Terrorism Act'. The officer accused her of committing a criminal offence. She reluctantly provided her name and address after being told she would otherwise be arrested, according to The Guardian. Murton told the paper: 'I don't see how anything I was wearing, how anything I was displaying, anything I was saying, could be deemed as supportive of the proscribed group.' 'It's terrifying, I was standing there thinking, this is the most authority, authoritarian, dystopian experience I've had in this country, being told that I'm committing terrorist offences by two guys with firearms.' 'I ended up giving my details, and I really resent the fact I had to do that because I don't think that was lawful at all.' Palestine Action were banned by Labour earlier this month, in an unprecedented crackdown on a direct action group. The ban came into force on July 5 after an unsuccessful legal bid by the group's co-founder Huda Ammori to gain an injunction. READ MORE: 12 countries agree concrete steps to halt Gaza genocide One of the police officers told Murton they were 'trying to be fair', adding: 'We could have jumped out, arrested you, dragged you off in a van.' The ban sparked warnings it would be used to restrict the free speech of people protesting the genocide in Gaza, with lawyers representing the group saying: 'Proscription of Palestine Action is highly likely to have a wide chilling effect on speech and assembly of those seeking to speak out against Israel's serious violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in Gaza.' Murton told The Guardian she had been motivated to protest because she 'can't handle' Palestinians being killed every day by Israel, in what the International Court of Justice has ruled is plausibly a genocide. (Image: Archive) International arrest warrants have also been issued for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (above) and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. She added: 'I can't handle sitting and doing nothing. Just showing up during rush hour to remind people that Palestine exists and that genocide is happening and try to keep it in the public consciousness – it wasn't motivated by anything other than that.' Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UK's law and human rights director, said the footage was 'very concerning', adding: 'We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. This video documents one aspect of exactly the kind of thing we were warning about.' A Kent police spokesperson said: 'Under the Terrorism Act it is a criminal offence to carry or display items that may arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action.'
