More than half of terrorism charges in Scotland have been over Palestine Action

SCOTTISH prosecutors have received more than 100 reports of alleged terrorism related to Palestine Action in seven months – more than for any other proscribed group in the 26 years since the Terrorism Act was introduced, The Ferret can reveal. Figures released under freedom of information legislation show 103 reports of terrorism charges associated with the banned direct action group had been received by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in Scotland by the end of February this year. In total, 193 terrorism charges have been lodged in Scotland, with Palestine Action cases accounting for more than half. The other 93 include allegations linked to paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. READ MORE: Which countries have declared emergency measures as fuel prices soar? Palestine Action – which aims to disrupt UK support for Israel – was proscribed by then home secretary Yvette Cooper in July last year, making support for the group punishable by 14 years’ imprisonment. Section 13 of the Terrorism Act makes it an offence to wear, carry or display an item in public in a way that arouses “reasonable suspicion” that a person is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation. The Home Office told The Ferret that it believed Palestine Action was “not an ordinary protest or civil disobedience group” and said it would always take the “strongest possible action” to protect UK national security. However, leading human rights organisations have raised serious concerns about Palestine Action’s proscription, with UN human rights chief Volker Türk warning that the UK Government’s decision undermined “fundamental freedoms” to protest. Those charged for their association with Palestine Action have included protesters targeting arms manufacturing factories like Elbit Systems or Leonardo, which produce components for Israeli F-35 fighter jets. But dozens of others in Scotland have been arrested and charged with terrorism offences after attending protests wearing T-shirts or holding up signs in support of the banned group. The new Scottish figures, obtained by Northern Irish investigative unit The Detail and shared with The Ferret, do not reveal how many of the charges led to convictions. However, we understand some are still facing terrorism charges for showing support for Palestine Action. In February, the High Court ruled that the decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation was unlawful. The Home Office is appealing its decision. Neil Cowan, Amnesty International UK’s Scotland programme director, said the “revelatory” figures underlined “just how far-reaching and damaging the proscription’s impact has been”. “People who are being criminalised for peacefully opposing the proscription of Palestine Action are being charged for something that should never have been a crime,” he argued. “They have found themselves branded terrorists as the result of the UK Government’s sweeping use of counter‑terrorism powers to silence critics or suppress dissent.” Maggie Chapman, North East MSP for the Scottish Greens, claimed the policy of proscription had been “utterly immoral and dangerous”. “It has had a terrible impact on people who have been criminalised for holding signs, while being a total waste of time and resources for the police,” she added. “The violence, destruction and genocide that Israel is inflicting is grotesque, and it is the duty of everyone who cares about human rights to oppose it in word and deed. Instead, Labour have punished those taking a stand while arming and supporting those responsible for some of the worst crimes of this century.” READ MORE: Mhairi Black: Post-Brexit Britannia is very far from ruling world’s waves Yair Dvir, spokesperson of Israeli human rights group B’Tselem said that with genocide continuing in Gaza and “ethnic cleansing in the West Bank expanding”, it was critical that the international community took action. “Today in Israel, there is no existing mechanism that is capable of stopping the deterioration we are witnessing,” he added. “The government and other state apparatuses operate openly to commit crimes against humanity.” Last week, the Israeli Knesset approved the death penalty for those convicted of intentional killings classified as acts of terrorism under Israeli legislation. Human rights organisations have said they are “appalled” at the “discriminatory” legislation, claiming the wording of the bills means it would primarily, if not exclusively, be applied to Palestinians and would be the “default” sentence. In response to the figures, a spokesperson for the Crown Office said all reports were “fully considered and assessed in accordance with the law, the available evidence, and the public interest”, adding: “Scotland’s prosecutors act independently at all times.” A Home Office spokesperson said: “As the High Court acknowledged, Palestine Action has carried out acts of terrorism and is not an ordinary protest or civil disobedience group. The court also found that its actions are not consistent with democratic values or the rule of law. “There are many lawful ways to support the Palestinian cause without being a member or supporter of this harmful organisation, as the court agreed.” The Israeli Embassy was approached for comment.