UK rights groups slam ‘authoritarian’ conviction of pro-Palestine activists

UK rights groups warn that conviction of pro-Palestine activists Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham signals an authoritarian turn and will chill lawful protest. | Contesto: cronaca

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• UK rights groups slam ‘authoritarian’ conviction of pro-Palestine activists

Contesto

LONDON — A British court has convicted two prominent pro-Palestine activists, Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham, in a ruling that leading human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned as “authoritarian” and likely to produce a “broader chilling effect” on lawful dissent. The verdict, handed down at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, stems from their involvement in organizing protests related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While the specific charges were not detailed in the initial ruling, rights groups immediately denounced the decision as a dangerous escalation in the state’s treatment of political activism. Ben Jamal is the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and Chris Nineham is a longtime activist and founding member of the Stop the War Coalition; both have been central figures in the UK’s largest pro-Palestine demonstrations over the past year. Amnesty International UK issued a sharp rebuke, stating that the conviction “represents a deeply authoritarian approach to protest” and warning that it will “send a clear signal that the state is willing to criminalize those who exercise their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly.” Human Rights Watch echoed this sentiment, arguing that the ruling “threatens to have a broader chilling effect on the right to protest in the UK,” particularly on issues relating to foreign policy and human rights abuses. Other domestic civil liberties groups have also voiced alarm, suggesting the case fits a wider pattern of legal crackdowns on activists, journalists, and campaigners. The case has reignited a fierce debate about the boundaries of lawful protest in Britain. Proponents of the conviction argue that the activists overstepped legal limits, potentially by organizing demonstrations that led to public disorder or by failing to comply with police conditions. However, critics counter that the charges were politically motivated, designed to suppress criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The activists’ legal team has already signaled an intention to appeal, arguing that the ruling sets a dangerous precedent by conflating passionate...

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Categoria: cronaca