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Fourteen Years in Prison for Quoting Hamas? New Law Could Criminalise Journalists

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https://zeteo.uk/p/fourteen-years-in-prison-for-quoting

The UK Parliament, London. Photo by Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/Sipa USA via Reuters

Starmer is rushing legislation through parliament that experts say threatens free speech, public interest journalism and international humanitarian aid

Sir Keir Starmer’s historically unpopular and soon-to-be-replaced administration is using its last gasps to push through a new national security law that experts believe will pose serious threats to free speech, public interest journalism and the provision of international humanitarian aid.

The new legislation, called the national security (state threats) bill, is intended to update existing national security legislation. It has been introduced by the current home secretary, Shabana Mahmood. Mahmood is widely seen as a hardliner in Starmer’s government, responsible for introducing tougher restrictions on the settlement rights of asylum seekers and immigrants. The bill has been rushed through the Commons and is now being pushed at pace through the Lords. The government wants to have the law on the statute books within weeks.

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Free speech and press freedom groups argue that the bill threatens public interest journalism – a view endorsed by two independent reviewers of terrorism legislation. David Anderson, the government’s former independent reviewer, has said that journalists would be “at risk of prosecution if they were to have contact of any kind with sources within designated bodies or their agents”. Any journalist who works with a source in a hostile foreign government, or simply approaches them for information, could face more than a decade in prison.

Jonathan Hall, the government’s current independent reviewer, has raised similar concerns. He has pushed for the law to include a “reasonable excuse” defence covering the exchange of information.

The practical implications of the bill for journalism are wide-ranging and devastating.

https://zeteo.uk/p/fourteen-years-in-prison-for-quoting

Keir Starmer confirms that he doesn't know anything about democracy.
Keir Starmer confirms that he doesn’t know anything about democracy.
Continue ReadingFourteen Years in Prison for Quoting Hamas? New Law Could Criminalise Journalists

Ban on Palestine Action is repugnant and should be lifted, high court told

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https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/26/ban-on-palestine-action-is-repugnant-and-should-be-lifted-high-court-told

Police make an arrest outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday at the start of a legal challenge to the ban on Palestine Action. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

Co-founder’s lawyer says group is part of an ‘honourable tradition’ of direct action and civil disobedience

The proscription of Palestine Action is a repugnant, unprecedented and disproportionate interference with the right to protest, the high court has heard.

On the first day of a legal challenge to the ban brought by co-founder Huda Ammori, her lawyer said the group had been engaged in an “honourable tradition” of direct action and civil disobedience prior to proscription.

Raza Husain KC told the court in London on Wednesday: “There are reasons of profound importance as to why, in the 32 executive orders that have been made adding organisations to proscribed lists, no direct action civil disobedience organisation appears.

“Such proscription is repugnant to the tradition of the common law and contrary to the European convention on human rights.”

Husain said the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, had alleged that some of Palestine Action’s activities crossed the threshold for terrorism but that these were few in number and were disputed.

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The original article at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/26/ban-on-palestine-action-is-repugnant-and-should-be-lifted-high-court-told is recommended.

Palestine Action joke that appeared in the UK satirical magazine 'Private Eye'.
Palestine Action joke that appeared in the UK satirical magazine ‘Private Eye’.
Continue ReadingBan on Palestine Action is repugnant and should be lifted, high court told

‘Something is going very wrong here in the UK’

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/something-going-very-wrong-here-uk

 Police officers detain a protester as demonstrators take part in a Lift the Ban on Palestine Action protest organised by Defend our Juries in Parliament Square in London, September 6, 2025

Campaigners urge new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to drop ‘unenforceable’ ban on Palestine Action

NEW Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is facing growing pressure to scrap the “impossible to enforce” Palestine Action ban after nearly 900 people were arrested in London this weekend.

An estimated 1,500 took part in the 11-hour Lift The Ban rally in Parliament Square on Saturday, as they sat and held signs reading: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,” with hundreds of others taking part in Scotland.

A human wall of trade unionists and anti-war activists surrounded sign-holders in the action and outside the Westminster government offices in Edinburgh in a “Witness Circle.”

A total of 890 people were arrested in London, with 857 arrests made for showing support for a proscribed group, while 33 people were arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers and other public order offences.

The Met Police condemned the “intolerable abuse” it claims its officers suffered during the protest

The protest saw officers drawing their batons, forcing their way through crowds, carrying arrested protesters — including one wheelchair-using veteran — and having screaming arguments with demonstrators.

One protester was seen with blood streaming down his face.

Organisers Defend Our Juries (DOJ) called on Ms Mahmood to drop the “unenforceable” ban.

A spokesperson said: “The fact that 857 out of 1,500 were arrested and that this took 11 hours, makes a mockery of the ban on Palestine Action and shows once again that it is impossible to enforce.

“Rather than arrest thousands more ordinary citizens … the new Home Secretary must rethink what is becoming Labour’s poll tax moment, which is making the UK the subject of condemnation and ridicule around the world.

“Regarding the Met’s false claims smearing the protesters, this is simply a desperate attempt to deflect from the embarrassment caused to Sir Mark Rowley after he pledged the Met would arrest every person who held [the signs].”

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/something-going-very-wrong-here-uk

Palestine Action joke that appeared in the UK satirical magazine 'Private Eye'.
Palestine Action joke that appeared in the UK satirical magazine ‘Private Eye’.
Keir "I support Zionism without Qualification" Starmer supporting genocide.
Keir “I support Zionism without Qualification” Starmer supporting genocide.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Continue Reading‘Something is going very wrong here in the UK’

Scottish, Wales and Irish MPs call on Starmer to recall Parliament and ‘impose sanctions’ on Israel

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/scottish-wales-and-irish-mps-call-starmer-recall-parliament-and-impose-sanctions-israel

 Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, August 16, 2025

PRIME Minister Sir Keir Starmer was urged today to recall Parliament to “impose immediate sanctions” on Israel in a joint letter signed by politicians in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The appeal, backed by senior figures across multiple parties, calls on the Prime Minister to take decisive action to end the crisis in Gaza amid long-standing demands for sanctions against Israel, growing international outrage at the genocide, and anger over the government’s crackdown on pro-Palestine protests.

Campaigners have raised a contempt of court complaint against Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, claiming she misled the public by saying that Palestine Action had been proscribed due to violence against people, when legal documents show the decision was based on property damage.

Signatories to the letter include Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, SDLP leader Claire Hanna, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader Liz Saville-Roberts.

The letter says: “The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza is both man-made and avoidable.

“It is characterised not only by relentless bombardment and destruction, but by the deliberate creation of conditions that are starving a civilian population.

“The blocking of food, water and medical supplies has precipitated what UN agencies and humanitarian experts describe as a man-made famine; one that is rapidly claiming lives and inflicting irreparable harm on an already traumatised population.”

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/scottish-wales-and-irish-mps-call-starmer-recall-parliament-and-impose-sanctions-israel

Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
UK Labour Party government ministers Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves explain that they are partners complicit in Israel's Gaza genocide. The UK has provided Israel with arms, military and air force support. They explain that they don't do gas chambers but do do forced marches, starvation, destroy hospitals, mass-murders of journalists and healthcare workers.
UK Labour Party government ministers Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves explain that they are partners complicit in Israel’s Gaza genocide. The UK has provided Israel with arms, military and air force support. They explain that they don’t do gas chambers but do do forced marches, starvation, destroy hospitals, mass-murders of journalists and healthcare workers.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Continue ReadingScottish, Wales and Irish MPs call on Starmer to recall Parliament and ‘impose sanctions’ on Israel

Yvette Cooper facing contempt of court allegations over Observer article

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https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2025/08/18/yvette-cooper-observer-article

Featured image via the Canary

On Sunday 17 August, campaign group Defend Our Juries levelled a contempt of court complaint against the home secretary Yvette Cooper over an article in the Observer. Notably, this was after she made repeated insinuations that the government proscribed Palestine Action because of violence against people.

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In its letter to Attorney General, Defend Our Juries said of Yvette Cooper and her Observer column:

It is not only disingenuous to present this isolated case as characteristic of Palestine Action, it is a contempt of court that prevents fair trials of those who stand accused. Yvette Cooper’s comments have been widely publicised, such that it would be impossible to find a jury unaffected by them.

We are not naïve regarding the political obstacles to commencing contempt of court proceedings against the Home Secretary.

But if the rule of law means anything, it is that no-one is above the law, most particularly the rich and powerful, such as Elbit Systems UK and Yvette Cooper. It is particularly egregious for a Home Secretary to abuse their office in this way, to present a false and misleading picture of those who face serious criminal charges.

Cooper referred to Israel’s starvation and slaughter of the Palestinian people as “crimes against humanity” in her Observer article. She wrote that:

So anyone who wants to protest against the catastrophic humanitarian situation and crimes against humanity in Gaza, to oppose Israel’s military offensive, or to criticise the actions of any and every government, including our own, has the freedom to do so.

So far as Defend Our Juries are aware, this is the first time the government has formally recognised that Israel is committing crimes against humanity.

This recognition comes with profound consequences in terms of the legal obligations that ensue.

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Original article at https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2025/08/18/yvette-cooper-observer-article

Palestine Action joke that appeared in the UK satirical publication 'Private Eye'.
Palestine Action joke that appeared in the UK satirical publication ‘Private Eye’.
Keir "I support Zionism without Qualification" Starmer supporting genocide.
Keir “I support Zionism without Qualification” Starmer supporting genocide.
UK Labour Party government ministers Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves explain that they are partners complicit in Israel's Gaza genocide. The UK has provided Israel with arms, military and air force support. They explain that they don't do gas chambers but do do forced marches, starvation, destroy hospitals, mass-murders of journalists and healthcare workers.
UK Labour Party government ministers Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves explain that they are partners complicit in Israel’s Gaza genocide. The UK has provided Israel with arms, military and air force support. They explain that they don’t do gas chambers but do do forced marches, starvation, destroy hospitals, mass-murders of journalists and healthcare workers.

Continue ReadingYvette Cooper facing contempt of court allegations over Observer article