Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, entered a plea of not guilty today in Westminster Magistrates Court; the first hearing of those charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 following the proscription of Palestine Action.  Shippam, Murray and Maclean were arrested at a protest in central London on 5 July.

Overall, more than 1,500 people have been arrested under this legislation since Palestine Action was proscribed on 5 July. 138 charges have been made with prosecutors indicating that more are expected. Seven people have been arrested and charged under section 12 for allegedly convening Zoom calls to discuss the protests.

Amnesty International UK and Liberty have been granted permission by the High Court to intervene in the Judicial Review of Palestine Action’s proscription. The hearing is expected to take place in November. 

The trial has been listed for March 2026.

Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International’s Director of Campaigns and Communications, said:  

“Let’s be clear – these people should never have been charged in the first place.  

“Criminalising protest speech is only permitted under the UK’s international human rights obligations when it incites violence, hatred or discrimination. Peacefully expressing support for Palestine Action clearly does not meet this threshold. 

“Hundreds of peaceful protesters have been arrested under this overly-broad and misused legislation. Today’s hearing has been the first time any of these cases have been heard in court. 

“It is absurd and wrong for all these individuals to be hauled through the court system and treated as ‘terrorists’.  

“Prosecutors must drop the charges against these three individuals and take no further action against all the other peaceful protesters who have been wrongly arrested. All charges must be dropped and the arrests must stop.”

ENDS

Media contacts: media@amnesty.org.uk