#filton 18

The open letter provides a devastating exposure of the collapse of democracy in Britain, with the right to free speech and protest being overturned. — “warning signs of erosion of the rule of law and democracy in the United Kingdom” More than 20 international legal organisations have issued an open letter calling on authorities in the UK to “urgently cease the misuse of counter-terrorism legislation against the Filton 18”. The letter provides a devastating exposure of the collapse of democracy in Britain, with the right to free speech and protest being overturned. Eighteen members of Palestine Action (PA)—most aged in their 20s—are being held on remand and face “terrorism connected” prosecution over a protest at Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems in Filton, near Bristol, last August. Six members of PA were arrested on August 6, after they drove through security fences in a repurposed police van, entered the factory, and allegedly damaged £1 million of military equipment including “killer drones” used to target and kill Palestinian civilians. Police arrested eight more PA members between August 8 and 12 over their alleged connection to the protest. In November, the final eight were arrested. All were initially questioned and detained under counter-terrorism laws. They were held for 36 hours, extended to seven days under section 5 of the Terrorism Act (2000). Their detention under the Act meant police treated PA’s protest as involving the “commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism”. The open letter challenges the use of counter-terror laws against the Filton 18, connecting it to “a broader pattern of increasing restriction and repression of collective dissent in the United Kingdom, including in relation to the ongoing genocide in Gaza”. This includes “increasing use of anti-terrorism powers against journalists reporting on Palestine; undue restrictions on public events and discussion under the problematic ‘Prevent’ duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015; injunctions against Palestine-related protests on university campuses; and undue treatment or labelling of Palestine and environmental protestors as terrorists.”

How did I not know that:

political activists are being held for 2 years without trial because the CPS slapped the "links to terrorism" label on their case

One of the imprisoned people's mother was detained, in solitary, for 5 days without charge, reason or an apology on release

One of the imprisoned is being targeted with pregnancy and drugs tests, is forbidden from practicing her religion and is mocked for it.

The Filton 18 are another example of the British government targeting political activists with terrorism laws to stifle opposition, a few years from now some ex-department head will admit this is true and the most noise it'll make is page 18 of the guardian smothered in victim blaming language.