London, 24 January 2025

Re: Assault on the Right to Protest and the Impact on the British Palestinian Community

Dear Home Secretary,

We write as British Palestinian citizens and residents of the UK to express our grave concern regarding the arrests and charges brought against participants in the rally organised by the Palestine coalition on 18 January 2025. Specifically, the bringing of charges against Chief Steward Chris Nineham and PSC Director Ben Jamal marks a disproportionate and dangerous curtailment of the right to peaceful assembly and protest. This development has profound implications for the British Palestinian community and its ongoing struggle for justice.

The right to protest has long been central to democratic life in Britain, serving as the bedrock of movements for justice. Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, incorporated into domestic law via the Human Rights Act 1998, explicitly protect the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, obliging public bodies to respect and facilitate peaceful protest. However, the increasing erosion of these rights through new legislation and restrictive policing tactics represents a fundamental threat to democracy.

The events surrounding the Palestine rally illustrate this concerning trend. Despite an established record of overwhelmingly peaceful pro-Palestinian protests, the Metropolitan Police imposed excessive restrictions, preventing the demonstration from assembling near or marching toward the BBC. The lack of compelling evidence for these restrictions strongly suggests politically motivated interference aimed at undermining the protest’s impact and shielding state institutions from legitimate criticism.

Moreover, the bringing of charges against Chris Nineham, Ben Jamal and others, is deeply troubling. Video evidence contradicts the factual claims upon which these charges were based, raising serious questions about the misuse of police powers. This escalation highlights a broader pattern of targeting anti-war and pro-Palestinian demonstrations, creating a chilling effect on the right to protest for those advocating justice for Palestinians.

The British Palestinian community is disproportionately affected by these measures. For many, public demonstrations are an essential means of expressing solidarity, raising awareness, and calling attention to the ongoing injustices faced by Palestinians. The curtailment of these rights, combined with the policing of protests in a manner that appears politically motivated, not only undermines democratic freedoms but also silences voices advocating for justice and human rights.

We join the calls from the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and others in urging a comprehensive review of British law and policing practices to ensure they uphold the right to protest. Specifically, we call for:

  • The immediate dropping of charges against those unjustly arrested or charged in relation to the 18 January protest.

  • An independent investigation into the policing of the Palestine rally, with a particular focus on the conditions imposed and the arrests and charges made, and the subsequent claims made by the police.

  • A repeal of recent anti-protest laws that have unjustifiably restricted the ability to engage in peaceful protest.

  • A recalibration of the legal framework to protect and promote the right to protest in line with international human rights standards.

We urge you to take immediate steps to address these issues and restore public confidence in the right to peaceful protest. The ability to demonstrate freely and effectively is not only a cornerstone of democracy but also a vital lifeline for communities striving for justice, such as ours.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss these concerns further and look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Sara Husseini, Director, British Palestinian Committee

Dr Aimee Shalan, Chair, British Palestinian Committee & Director, Makan




Rasha Abdelbaqi, Education director

Rasha Abdul Rahim, Independent expert on technology, human rights and social justice

Sarona Abuaker, Educator and writer

Zena Agha, Writer and policy analyst

Mahmud Al-Bustami, NHS consultant cardiologist

Ahmed Alnaouq, Co-founder & director, We Are Not Numbers

Sawsan Asfari, Co-Founder & Trustee, The Galilee Foundation

Dr Tareq Baconi, Writer

Zaher Birawi, Chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain

Ramsey Dabbagh, Entrepreneur 

Dr. Selma Dabbagh, Lawyer and writer

Prof. Izzat Darwazeh, University College London

Nadia Hijab, Author and human rights advocate

Dr Lena El Malak, Independent legal consultant

Hussein Elshaer, UK Gaza Community

Basem Farajallah,  UK Gaza community co-founder

Ghassan Ghaben, Gaza Families Reunited Campaign

Prof. Adam Hanieh, University of Exeter 

Amani Hassan, Programme director, Arab British Centre 

Adnan Hmidan, Founder of Al Arab in UK Platform

Dr Rafiq Husseini, Former charity director

Dr Alaa Owaineh, Director, PalArt Collective

Alexandra Lucas, Lawyer

Prof. Dina Matar, Chair, Centre for Palestine Studies, SOAS

Dr Mazen Masri, Senior Lecturer in Law, City St. George's University of London & Board member of the British Palestinian Committee 

Leanne Mohamad, British Palestinian activist

Prof. Karma Nabulsi, Senior Research Fellow, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford 

Dr Nadia Naser-Najjab, Senior lecturer in Palestine Studies, University of Exeter

Amira Nimerawi, CEO Health workers 4 Palestine

Dr Mezna Qato, Historian

Atallah Said OBE, British Palestinian Committee patron and founder

Hussein Sameh, Fossil Finance Organiser, Tipping Point UK & BPC Advisory Council Member

Omar Shweiki, Education charity director

Dr Nimer Sultany, Reader in Public Law, SOAS University

Wesam Tahboub, Customer Relations Manager

Isam Uraiqat, Director, Alhudood

Hamza Yusuf, Journalist

Sinan Battah, Associate, University of Essex

Magdi Elguindi, Retired Orthopaedic Surgeon

Sara Masry, Actor/Writer

Nadir Farsani, Writer

Taghrid Choucair-Vizoso, Climate cultural worker, International Solidarity Conmittee Equity

Khalil S Hindi, Retired University Professor

Flora Hindi, Retired Writer/Editor

Mohammed Shamallakh, Control Engineer

Soraya Boyd, Teacher

Adnan Sabah, Legal consultant

Hamid Ali, Media Academic

Nasrin Akhter, PhD Candidate , University of St Andrews

Samer Jaber, Teacher

Iyas AlQasem, Charity Trustee

Hatem Kamal, Trustee Welfare Association

Sarah Khorshid, Pharmacist

Mahmood Hejaze, Data analyst

Ahlam Akram, Founder and Director of BASIRA 'British Arabs Supporting Integration, Recognition and Awareness'

Nada Al Ghussein

Nisrine Barakeh

Rania Hallaq

Amina Nasrallah

Erfan Arab

Sarah El-Guindi

Said Al-sheikh

Wafa Said

Ahmed Younis

Aidan Neal

Saeed Abuzour

Mahmoud Alloush

Aseel Abuzour

Abdelelah Alozizi

Ayman Assaf

Rahima Khokhar

Kazi Arfan

Ahmad Samih Khalidi

Hayat Ali

Nayef Abu Ebaid

Riz Rafa

Laila Kreaa

Reema Farah

                                                          

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The British Palestinian Committee is an independent organisation working to ensure that British Palestinian perspectives are integral to public discourse and policy making on Palestine.