Scholars, writers and artists defy ban on Palestine Action in letter to judges | Palestine Action

Sally Rooney, Greta Thunberg and Brian Eno have written to the appeals court in support of Palestine Action ahead of a hearing next week to determine the legality of the ban on the direct action protest group.

The letter, signed by more than 130 people and consisting of just six words: “We oppose genocide, we support Palestine Action”, is the first time leading scientists, writers and activists have come together to oppose the ban.

Three senior judges ruled in February that the ban on the organisation, the first ban on a direct action protest group under the Terrorism Act, was unlawful but said it should remain in place pending an appeal, which begins in the appeal court on Tuesday. Following the high court’s ruling, the Metropolitan police said it would stop arresting people but has since resumed arrests.

Other prominent signatories include writers Tarık Ali and China Miéville; musicians Nadine Shah and Ninja Tune records founder Matt Black; Judith Butler, a leading feminist philosopher and queer theorist at UC Berkeley in the US; and veteran environmental advocate Jonathon Porritt.

By carrying banners saying “I am against genocide, I support the Palestine Action” and repeating the words of more than 3 thousand people who were arrested for allegedly supporting the terrorist organization, they too risk being arrested.

Peter Hallward, a signatory and professor of modern European philosophy at Kingston University, said: “This absurd and contradictory situation clearly cannot last much longer. And if enough people are prepared to defy such an inconsistent and unjustified law, then we may be able to convince the government that it is neither legitimate nor enforceable.”

Rooney, the Irish author of Normal People and Conversations with Friends, canceled his trip to England to receive the award last year for fear of being arrested after he said he planned to use the income from his work to support Palestine Action. In a witness statement highlighting the impact of the ban on freedom of expression, he said his books could disappear from UK stores because of his support for the group.

Thunberg was arrested after unfurling a banner reading “I support the detainees in the Palestine Action. I am against genocide” at a demonstration in December. His banner was a reference to people who were on hunger strike in prison awaiting trial in connection with the protests before the group was banned.

Some of the signatories had signed earlier statements calling on the UK government to lift the ban on Palestine Action, and following Thunberg’s arrest, Expressing solidarity with the prisoners of Palestine Action. However, the letter sent to the appeal court, signed by scientists from countries including England, France, Argentina, Australia, Canada and the USA, goes even further, disregarding the ban.

“If you ignore what is happening in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, you suspend your own humanity. If you fight for the rights of all Palestinians by supporting Palestine Action, hope can be reborn,” Porritt said.

Charles Secrett, who led Friends of the Earth in the UK for a decade, said: “Orwell warned that the first step towards tyranny is the abuse and misuse of language by an authoritarian government. Labor’s perverse interpretation of the word ‘terrorist’ in describing Palestine Action and its supporters as terrorists is an example of this.”

“Equating peaceful, conscientious, banner-carrying people like students and retirees with violent extremists like ISIS is a travesty of justice and freedom of expression. [Islamic State] and Al Qaeda.”

The letter was posted on the website of civil liberties organization Defend Our Juries, along with a form allowing anyone to sign it.

Following the high court’s decision, Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood said that she did not agree with the court’s decision that “the banning of this terrorist organization is disproportionate”.