UK finds pro-Palestine protest organisers guilty of breaching police rules

Human Rights Watch slams the ruling against Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham as a ‘political’ move to silence dissent.Two civil society leaders have been found guilty of breaching protest guidelines in the United Kingdom during a pro-Palestine demonstration in London last year.Ben Jamal, 62, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and Chris Nineham, 63, vice chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, on Wednesday were both accused of failing to march within a designated area set by police during a mass protest on January 18, 2025.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4UK pro-Palestine activist arrested weeks after being released on baillist 2 of 4UK pro-Palestine activist arrested weeks after being released on baillist 3 of 4The attack on the right to protest in the UK is not just about Palestinelist 4 of 4UK accused of ‘intimidation tactics’ against bailed pro-Palestine activistsend of listThe verdict comes at a time of growing friction between the police and the UK’s significant Palestine solidarity movement – and before another march that could bring new tensions.The pair were found guilty in a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and were charged with failing to comply with conditions that required the protest to stay in an area in central London and not enter the surroundings of the British Broadcasting Corporation’s headquarters at Portland Place.Jamal was also convicted of two counts of inciting other protesters to breach police conditions.The Metropolitan Police had also imposed conditions blocking the pro-Palestine march from gathering near a central London synagogue, citing safety concerns.“Both defendants clearly knew the conditions, given their organising roles and involvement in planning the demonstration,” read the judges’ summary of the trial.“Mr Jamal’s speech constituted incitement: It was a suggestion, persuasion and inducement encouraging breach of the conditions,” it added.The public gallery was full of the defendants’ supporters, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, as the judge read the verdicts out, according to the PA news agency.