40mago 17.08 8ST
Palestine Action ban means anyone who says something
supportive about them faces up to 14 years in jail, peers told
David Anderson, the government’s former independent reviewer of
terrorism legislation, told peers that he did not object to terrorism laws being
involved in relation to any of the three groups covered by the proscription
order being debated (Palestine Action, Maniacs Murder Cult [MMC] and the
Russian Imperial Movement).
But he said that this move would have serious consequences. He explained:
44 The consequences of designation for individuals misguided enough to
approve, for example, of Palestine Action are rather more draconian than the
explanatory memorandum to this order suggests.
That document states: “It is a criminal offence for a person to belong to or
invite support for a proscribed organisation. It is a criminal offence to arrange a
meeting to support a proscribed organisation.”
That is an accurate summary of section 11, section 12(1) and section 12(2) of the
Terrorism Act 2000. If you are a member or a promoter ofa proscribed
organisation, you can face up to 14 years in prison.
But since the Counter-terrorism and Border Security act 2019 introduced
section 12(1)(a) to the Terrorism Act 2000, you could also be looking at up to 14
years if you "express an opinion or belief that is supportive ofa proscribed
organisation", without even needing an intention that your listener or listeners
should agree. Being reckless about that sufices.
So by bringing Palestine Action, for example, within the ambit of the terrorism
laws anyone who is young and foolish enough to say that their heart is in the
right place, or that the government should listen to them, is committing a very
serious offence for which they could be prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned as
a terrorist.
It's not their right to protest that is the issue here. It's the right of freedom of
speech.
Anderson said the minister should tell whether this point was
considered by the government before it decided to ban Palestine Action.
Nadine Shah read out a statement from artists in support of Palestine Action at Glastonbury (not that you'll see it) , she said that reading it out would be illegal if this ridiculous motion was passed.
So now it is.
Does this sound like a Democracy to you? […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]