Calls for UK to stop ‘politicising’ police work and allow free speech

Rights group calls on UK police force to stop arresting peaceful protesters in London.

In a letter to Metropolitan Police Chief, Sir Mark Rowley, the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) addressed the latest arrest, which took place at Trafalgar Square on 6 October 2024, in which a protester was arrested for chanting “Israel is a terrorist state”.

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In the incident which was captured on video, the entirely peaceful protester can be seen handcuffed behind his back by one officer, while another officer informs him that his arrest is due to his statement: “Israel is a terrorist state.”

IHRC said: “It is unclear if the protestor made this comment, but, even if he did, it represents a political opinion, not a criminal offence. The police should be fully aware that this individual was exercising his legitimate right to freedom of expression under the Human Rights Act 1998.”

The rights group’s said it has previously raised concerns that “policing has become increasingly politicised in response to government figures condemning and demonising protesters.”

It added that “protesters have been arrested on the flimsiest of pretexts such as carrying banners or sporting headbands carrying Arabic script,” and warned that “we are sleep-walking into a dangerous arena.”

The letter asks Sir Rowley to ensure that Met Police officers are trained and briefed to understand that protestors chanting “Israel is a terrorist state” is an expression protected under freedom of expression rights and does not constitute a basis to trigger an arrest under Public Order legislation and/or anti-terror legislation.

It also asks the Met Police to issue a public apology for breaching the individual protester’s rights, as well as for the alarm and distress this arrest will have caused the wider public.

“The general public need to be assured their rights will be protected by the police, not trampled on by heavy handed policing that seeks to shield Israel from criticism,” it concluded.

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