Activist in the UK Accused of Terrorism Offenses for Supporting Palestine Cause
In a case that has drawn significant attention and concern, Tony Greenstein, a 71-year-old Jewish anti-Zionist activist, is facing charges under the UK's Terrorism Act 2000 for expressing support for the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli army. Greenstein's legal battle, which began with his arrest by counter-terrorism police in October 2023, is scheduled to proceed at the Old Bailey later this month.
Greenstein's case is being handled in a court specifically designated for handling terrorism-related cases, Westminster Magistrates' Court. The Crown Prosecution Service formally charged him in late November 2024, accusing him of expressing an opinion supportive of Hamas, a proscribed organization by the UK government.
Since his initial arrest, Greenstein has been subjected to restrictive bail conditions, including prohibitions on commenting about Hamas on social media. His case has been a topic of discussion and protest, with over 100 supporters attending the first hearing, and similar protests being organized for the upcoming court date on January 31, 2025.
Greenstein's work challenges mainstream narratives and he has previously remarked that the Zionist movement has collaborated with anti-Semitic regimes for its own ends. His case is seen as having broader implications, extending far beyond his personal circumstances, as it is about protecting the right to speak out against injustice anywhere.
Greenstein views his case as part of a larger struggle for Palestinian rights and against the suppression of dissent in the UK, referring to it as the criminalization of solidarity. This sentiment is shared by many, with supporters stating that Greenstein's fight is their fight, and if he can stand up to this repression, so can they.
The case against Greenstein is not an isolated incident. Over the past year, there has been a trend of increased government repression of Palestine solidarity activism in the UK. Since August 2024, over 1,169 people have been arrested, with a mass arrest of 532 individuals on August 9, 2025, mainly participants in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London.
Other notable figures caught in this wave of repression include Professor Haim Bresheeth, a Jewish anti-Zionist, who was arrested following a speech near the Israeli ambassador's residence, and journalist Richard Medhurst, who was detained at Heathrow Airport under the Terrorism Act in August 2024, and his electronic devices were confiscated.
Police raids have also been conducted, such as the one at the home of Sarah Wilkinson, a prominent social media activist, in October 2024. If Greenstein loses his case, there is a risk of losing fundamental freedoms that make a democratic society possible. If convicted, Greenstein could face up to 14 years in prison.
Greenstein has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support his legal defense, aiming to shine a light on what he calls "the authoritarian creep" in British governance. His case is seen as a potential setter for the broader right to speak freely about Palestinian resistance to occupation. As the trial approaches, the eyes of the world are on the Old Bailey, awaiting a verdict that could have far-reaching implications for freedom of speech in the UK.
