Seventy-four-year-old female detained in Belfast for donning a Palestine Action vestion now freed.
In the UK, a series of protests and arrests have been taking place in recent days, raising concerns about freedom of expression and peaceful protest.
On Saturday, a 74-year-old woman was arrested in Belfast for wearing a Palestine Action T-shirt. The Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International UK, Patrick Corrigan, criticised the arrest, stating it is disproportionate for the PSNI to treat the woman as a terrorist under UK terrorism laws. Corrigan also expressed concern that these laws pose a serious risk to free expression.
Meanwhile, in London, 466 people were arrested for supporting the banned group after protesters gathered in Parliament Square on Saturday. Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International UK, Patrick Corrigan, and Gerry Carroll, a Belfast MLA, condemned the police action against pro-Palestine activists. Carroll called on Executive Ministers to dismiss any charges against protesters.
The British government proscribed Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 in July 2025, making it illegal to be a member of or to support the group. This includes criminal offences for expressing support, wearing items that might indicate membership or support, and encouraging related activities. Since proscription, UK police have made numerous arrests and prosecutions related to suspected offences under the Terrorism Act linked to Palestine Action.
The arrest of the woman in Belfast occurred in the Linenhall Street area. Police arrested her on suspicion of possessing an article that indicates support for a proscribed organization. The PSNI has been contacted for comment.
The proscription of Palestine Action has been met with legal challenges, with Palestine Action and its representatives arguing it disproportionately interferes with rights to freedom of expression and assembly under the European Convention on Human Rights. The High Court has granted permission to proceed with those challenges.
International human rights bodies have criticised the UK government for what they see as an excessive and potentially inappropriate use of counter-terrorism powers against a protest group, warning of chilling effects on legitimate protest.
In addition to the concerns about the arrests, there have also been calls to address the ongoing situation in Gaza. Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan criticised the British government and PSNI's actions as "disgraceful" and accused Keir Starmer of enabling the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation of Gazans. Corrigan also expressed concern about UK complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
In light of these events, the debate surrounding freedom of expression, peaceful protest, and the role of the UK government in international conflicts continues to intensify.
- The concerns about freedom of expression and peaceful protest in the UK have been further fueled by the arrest of a 74-year-old woman for wearing a Palestine Action T-shirt on social media, sparking discussions about the potential chilling effects on legitimate protest.
- meanwhile, the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Gaza have been a topic of conversation, with Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan accusing the British government and PSNI of contributing to the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation of Gazans, fueling calls for action in general-news and politics.
- The entertainment industry has also been touched by these events, with artists using their platforms to raise awareness and express support for the protesters arrested for crime-and-justice offences related to their support of Palestine Action, and questioning the use of war-and-conflicts related counter-terrorism powers by the UK government.
