The future of justice in the UK hangs in the balance this week. This comes against a backdrop of the long custodial sentences and disproportionate use of remand to detain anti-genocide and climate protestors in the UK, and the increasing restrictions on peaceful protest in legislation and the conduct of trials—as outlined in the recent report on Britain’s Political Prisoners. The potential significance of upcoming events is much greater still.
Firstly, on Friday June 12, four young UK anti-genocide activists are being sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court. This follows a retrial, after the jury at a first trial refused to convict. The activists may be sentenced on the basis of a terrorist connection—despite the jury not being made aware of this before passing their verdict. This could result in the first ever “terrorist” sentence to be passed in the UK relating to damage to property—drones and equipment being prepared by Elbit Systems UK Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd, the biggest private arms company in Israel.
It is not easy to determine the end uses of the research and manufacturing conducted by Elbit Systems UK, who deny supplying the Israeli Defence Forces and Israeli military with products or services. What is clear is the direct financial link with Elbit Systems Ltd. The Database of Israeli Military and Security Export reports the widespread use of Elbit Systems Ltd’s products for apartheid, and surveillance and attacks in Gaza.
Secondly, Monday June 15 is the date of the outcome of the UK government’s appeal to establish the proscription of Palestine Action. They are the first ever direct-action civil disobedience group to have been proscribed as a terrorist organisation, for activities targeting disruption to supply chains and damage to property—linked to the Israeli military— in seeking to prevent Israel’s serious violations of international law. The original proscription was ruled unlawful by the High Court in February this year. It has led to the arrest of over 2000 peaceful protestors, mostly for holding placards stating “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”.
Thirdly, the Courts and Tribunals Bill is currently progressing through parliament. This proposes to remove the right to trial by jury for all cases in England and Wales with expected sentences of three years or fewer. In addition, to also remove this right for long or complex cases, including those related to terrorism. This would remove centuries-old protections for protestors whose actions are motivated by social justice, and who are regularly acquitted by juries.
This bill is opposed by the Bar Council and the Law Society, the leading representatives of barristers and legal professionals in England and Wales. This bill is opposed by many senior judges. Yet this bill has been brought forward by a majority government who are yet to make any concessions to protect this cornerstone of democracy.
This is not to dismiss the importance of bringing swifter justice for those who have suffered violent personal abuse. It is not to dismiss the importance of addressing the planned use of violence towards innocent civilians to inflict terror in the general population. But this can be done without inflicting longer-term injustice—by following the many alternative court reforms proposed by the Bar Council, the Law Society, senior judges, Justice UK, and the Institute for Government, and addressing the issues in terrorism and anti-protest legislation.
The judges and MPs responsible for these upcoming decisions are being asked to declare that damage towards property is terrorism.
They would be declaring that it is terrorism when damage is inflicted against the machinery of the military and with the intent of saving human lives and ending genocide.
They would be suppressing the rights of citizens to disagree and to provide a more humane justice.
Where is the justice if a person is labelled a terrorist and imprisoned for seeking to save lives by damaging property and disrupting supply chains linked to serious violations of international law, while the owners and executives of the corporations in these supply chains continue to profit from these activities with impunity?
Amidst the hype of AI, there has been speculation of apocalyptic futures—where the machines of humanity’s creation, in the hands of controlling governments and corporations, become the peoples’ oppressors. If it is declared an act of terrorism for people to seek to end genocide by damaging machines of oppression and disrupting the corporations responsible for their creation, then what could be a greater death knell for humanity?
Please act for humane justice and peace.
