European concern over Britain's arrest of hundreds of supporters of "Palestine Action"

The Council of Europe expressed on Tuesday its concern over the large numbers of detainees in the United Kingdom in connection with their support for the organization "Palestine Action," which advocates for Palestinians and has been banned by the government, labeling it as "terrorist."

In a letter to British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the Council's Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, stated that London should conduct a "comprehensive review" of its approach to handling such protests.

The British government classified "Palestine Action" (Movement for Palestine) as a "terrorist" organization last July due to its activism and the protests it organized in opposition to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Approximately 500 people were arrested on October 4 during the latest pro-Palestinian protest in London, just two days after two individuals were killed in a knife attack at a Jewish synagogue in Manchester.

O'Flaherty noted in his letter, "Reports indicate that large numbers of people have been arrested for displaying signs expressing solidarity with the organization or opposing the government's decision to ban it."

He emphasized that national legislation designed to combat "terrorism" should not impose "any restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms."

O'Flaherty pointed out that legislative amendments made in 2022 and 2023 "enable authorities to impose excessive restrictions on the freedom of assembly and expression," warning that this could lead to further repression.

The United Kingdom is a member of the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner, which is not affiliated with the European Union and is based in Strasbourg.

Members of the Council of Europe are committed to the European Convention on Human Rights, under which the European Court of Human Rights was established.

Right-wing politicians, including leaders of the opposition Conservative Party, have urged Britain to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, arguing that it restricts domestic policies.

So far, the ruling Labour Party has resisted calls to withdraw from the convention.

O'Flaherty stated, "I recommend conducting a comprehensive review of the extent to which current legislation related to regulating protests complies with the United Kingdom's human rights obligations."

Social tensions have escalated in several European countries following October 7, 2023, due to the devastating aggression launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip, which lasted for two years, resulting in tens of thousands of martyrs, wounded, and missing individuals, before a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement was reached between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel, mediated by intermediaries this week.