Amnesty International launches global action to protect protest rights in the UK/Scotland

Amnesty International has launched a global ‘urgent action’ to protect the right to protest in the UK, following the arrest, since July 2025, of over 700 people for peacefully protesting in support of Palestine Action. 70 of the people have so far been charged with terrorism-related offences under UK’s counter-terror legislation and more charges are threatened.  

Amnesty International launches urgent actions where it deems that there is an ‘urgent need for intervention’ to stop human rights violations or abuses against an individual or group.  

The urgent action will involve letters addressed to chief prosecutors, including the Lord Advocate of Scotland, signed by activists and supporters all over the world. The letter calls for all charges to be dropped and for prosecutors to take no further action against all those arrested for the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It focuses on the UK’s obligations under International Human Rights Law which require that: 

“any restriction on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be lawful, necessary and proportionate to achieving a legitimate aim.” 

It makes the case that criminalising speech or protests in this context is only permitted when it incites violence or advocates hatred or discrimination. And that expressing support for Palestine Action does not meet this threshold. The letter adds: 

 The European Court of Human Rights’ case law confirms that such expressions, including those on placards, remain protected speech unless they directly and expressly incite violence. Arresting and prosecuting individuals in this context, is as such a violation of the UK’s obligations under human rights law.  

The launch of this global campaign is unprecedented, with this being the first time the UK will be the subject of a global Amnesty International ‘urgent action’ about the right to protest. The UK is not the subject of any other ‘urgent action’ campaigns. 

Liz Thomson, Amnesty’s Scotland Programme Director said: 

“We are calling on the Lord Advocate to make clear that no charges against any peaceful protesters will be pursued under this law in Scotland. 

“There is no public interest in prosecuting people who are not inciting violence, but simply voicing outrage at the ongoing genocide in Gaza.  

“We are asking people around the world who share our concerns to help us demand an end to the arrests and prosecutions of those peacefully expressing their opposition to genocide here in Scotland and throughout UK. 

“Meanwhile the UK Government should be focusing on taking immediate and unequivocal action to put a stop to Israel’s genocide and ending any risk of UK complicity in it.”     

Link to Urgent Action: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur45/0217/2025/en/  

Amnesty wrote to the Chief Constable and the Lord Advocate on August 11th, warning that arrests and prosecutions for peaceful demonstration must end: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/scottish-human-rights/letter-police-scotland-and-lord-advocate