Post by @ChrisMayLA6@mastodon.me.uk

The sentences for Palestine Action activists convicted of criminal damage, but then sentenced on the basis of 'terrorist connections' (something that was not revealed to the jury during its deliberations) are to be appealed.

These attacks on democracy & protest must be halted, but its by no means clear that this appeal will be successful; but if it is, we can expect this to work its way towards the Supreme Court at the best of the Home Office!

#politics #protest
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/03/pro-palestine-activists-who-were-sentenced-as-terrorists-launch-appeal

the Guardian

Pro-Palestine activists who were sentenced as terrorists launch appeal

Barrister representing four who smashed drones at Israeli arms factory says ruling of ‘terrorist connection’ led to heftier sentences

#politics #protest

4 Replies

5 Boosts

Imran Nazar ~ عمران نزر

@Two9A@hachyderm.io 17 hr. ago

@ChrisMayLA6 I remain astonished that it's even possible, in the land that prides itself on being the mother of jurisprudence (Magna Carta 'n all that), that a judge can say "the jury has convicted you, now I get to decide what the crime was".

Surely on its face, that has to fail at appeal.

Emeritus Prof. Christopher May

@ChrisMayLA6@mastodon.me.uk 15 hr. ago

@Two9A

Indeed, but the legislation sort of allows it which is the problem... and with no formal written constitution, the law itself cannot be found to breach the fundamental principles of the rule of law, even though it does (pervaded one defines the rule of law 'thickly')

David Chisnall (*Now with 50% more sarcasm!*)

@david_chisnall@infosec.exchange 2 hr. ago

@ChrisMayLA6 @Two9A

I would really like a lawyer to opine on why the Home Secretary and judge keeping key information from the jury does not qualify as conspiracy to prevent the course of justice. It seems like a textbook case. There’s conspiracy (multiple parties are involved and make an effort to keep their goals secret from the target) and there’s perversion of the course of justice (the jury is required to make a decision with some pertinent fact deliberately withheld from them).

The UK has a concept of a private prosecution, where criminal charges can be brought directly on behalf of the affected parties, rather than by the crown. I presume rights organisations have taken legal advice to not pursue this route but I would like to understand why.

Emeritus Prof. Christopher May

@ChrisMayLA6@mastodon.me.uk 2 hr. ago

@david_chisnall @Two9A

Interesting point, thanks & boosted