• twinnie@feddit.uk
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    4 months ago

    This whole thing feels like a waste of effort and just a massive distraction. PA were banned because they tried to sabotage military resources, not because they’re supporting Palestine. Just rebrand and move on.

    If the government allowed it then suddenly the Russians, Chinese, Iranians, etc, would all be outfitting protest groups to undermine the UK’s military preparedness.

    • Saleh@feddit.orgOP
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      4 months ago

      Palestine action has been protesting for many years, in particular at weapons manufacturers, whose weapons are illegally used by the Israeli occupation. The UK is, again illegally, using Brize Norton to facilitate weapons shipments and intelligence flights for the illegal Israeli occupation, possibly implicating itself directly in war crimes and crimes against humanity, war of aggression and annexation.

      Equating non violent direct action and civil disobedience with “terrorism” is an authoritarian move, setting a precedent to increasingly crack down on civil liberties in the UK, making it more similar to Russia, China, Iran, etc. in how it treats freedom of speech, freedom of press and freedom of protest.

      The UK could just not use their military resources for illegal acts, possibly implicating it in war crimes, crimes against humanity, war of aggression and annexation.

    • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
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      4 months ago

      If the word “terrorism” is to ever a rigorous definition (which I doubt), that definition has to include political violence intended to inspire fear (you know, the terror part). What Palestine Action did doesn’t fit that definition, so proscribing them as a terrorist organization was a massive act of authoritarian overreach, even if you disapprove of what they did. First it’ll be Palestine Action, later it’ll be you. Of course if the word “terrorism” doesn’t have a rigorous definition, then it has no business showing up anywhere near government policy. Either way this is not something that should be taken lying down if Brits want to keep their democracy by 2035.