Fatema Rajwani

Fatema Rajwani, 21, is a Palestine Action activist who was recently acquitted of aggravated burglary and violent disorder charges. These charges stemmed from a break-in at the Elbit Systems factory in Filton, near Bristol, on August 6th. Elbit Systems is an Israeli defence firm. Rajwani, along with five other activists, was accused of threatening unlawful violence and using sledgehammers as weapons during the incident, which involved a prison van being driven into the factory. After spending 18 months in jail, Rajwani was released on bail and subsequently acquitted by a jury at Woolwich Crown Court. Her acquittal, and that of her co-defendants, has been described by Rajwani as a vindication of the Palestine Action cause. During the trial, Rajwani was described by her barrister as a "remarkable woman", drawing comparisons to the suffragettes.