Activist was subject to anti-terrorism law for displaying a poster in solidarity with members of the organization, banned by the British government in July
The Swedish climate activist was detained this Tuesday (23) in London during a demonstration in support of arrested activists from the banned group Palestine Action, the associations Defend Our Juries and Prisoners for Palestine announced. “Greta Thunberg was holding a sign with the phrase ‘I support Palestine Action prisoners. I am against genocide’”, said a spokesperson for Defend Our Juries, explaining that the activist “was detained under British anti-terrorism law”.
Police reported the arrest of a “22-year-old woman for displaying an object (a poster) in support of a banned organization (Palestine Action)”, without revealing her name.
The demonstration was organized in solidarity with eight members of Palestine Action who began a hunger strike. The group was included in the list of organizations considered “terrorist” in the United Kingdom in July, following acts of vandalism.
The militants, aged between 20 and 31, are arrested and awaiting trial for having organized actions in the group’s name.
Huda Ammori, co-founder of the organization, filed a legal appeal to challenge the ban, which was criticized both by human rights NGOs and by the Council of Europe and the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
According to Defend Our Juries, more than 2,000 people were arrested during the dozens of demonstrations organized in support of the group.
Any act of support for the organization can be punished by up to six months in prison.
Greta Thunberg is the first high-profile figure to be detained in this context. Images posted on social media show her sitting on the floor with a sign.
*With information from AFP
Published by Nícolas Robert
