Hazzard writes to British government calling for ban on Palestine Action to be lifted
Sinn Féin South Down MP Chris Hazzard has said the ruling that the ban on Palestine Action was unlawful represents a damning indictment of the British government’s approach to protest rights and Palestinian solidarity.
Speaking after writing to British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Mr Hazzard said the judgment vindicates the thousands of activists who have campaigned against the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
The South Down MP said: “Friday’s ruling was a watershed moment. It confirms what activists, lawyers and human rights organisations have been saying from the outset that highlighting the suffering of the Palestinian people and raising concerns about breaches of international law is not a crime. It never was.
“This ruling exposes the British state’s attempt to suppress the Palestinian solidarity movement as unlawful, heavy‑handed and fundamentally undemocratic.
“Efforts to silence those exposing war crimes in Gaza – actions enabled by consecutive British governments – have now been struck down in court.
“No government should ever undermine the basic right of people to speak out against injustice or to stand in solidarity with those facing grave humanitarian crises.”
Mr Hazzard added the ruling must trigger a fundamental reassessment of British policy on Palestine saying
“The British government must now fundamentally:
• re-assess its policy on Palestine;
• nd its complicity in the ongoing occupation,
• address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza,
• and ensure its actions align with international law and global human rights standards. Nothing less is acceptable.”
