UK Judge Applies Terrorism Designation to Palestine Action Activists After Criminal Damage Convictions
Leona Kamio, Samuel Corner, Fatema Rajwani and Charlotte Head were found guilty last month for their involvement in a raid on an Elbit Systems UK facility near Bristol on 6 August 2024. Two co-defendants, Jordan Devlin and Zoe Rogers were acquitted. On Friday, Justice Jeremy Johnson determined that the offences carried a terrorism connection, a f
inding that was not presented to the jury during the trial. The designation could result in more severe sentencing consequences. The case is believed to be the first in the United Kingdom in which a terrorism connection has been applied to direct action protesters who were neither convicted of terrorism offences nor accused of causing intentional violence. Palestine Action has targeted Elbit Systems facilities as part of its campaign against the company's role in supplying military equipment to Israel. The ruling is expected to intensify debate over the use of terrorism related powers in protest cases. Source: AP News
