Human Rights Watch slams the ruling in opposition to Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham as a ‘political’ transfer to silence dissent.
Revealed On 1 Apr 2026
Two civil society leaders have been discovered responsible of breaching protest guidelines in the UK throughout a pro-Palestine demonstration in London final yr.
Ben Jamal, 62, director of the Palestine Solidarity Marketing campaign, and Chris Nineham, 63, vice chairman of the Cease the Battle Coalition, on Wednesday have been each accused of failing to march inside a delegated space set by police throughout a mass protest on January 18, 2025.
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The decision comes at a time of growing friction between the police and the UK’s vital Palestine solidarity motion – and earlier than one other march that might deliver new tensions.
The pair have been discovered responsible in a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom, and have been charged with failing to adjust to circumstances that required the protest to remain in an space in central London and never enter the environment of the British Broadcasting Company’s headquarters at Portland Place.
Jamal was additionally convicted of two counts of inciting different protesters to breach police circumstances.
The Metropolitan Police had additionally imposed circumstances blocking the pro-Palestine march from gathering close to a central London synagogue, citing security issues.
“Each defendants clearly knew the circumstances, given their organising roles and involvement in planning the demonstration,” learn the judges’ abstract of the trial.
“Mr Jamal’s speech constituted incitement: It was a suggestion, persuasion and inducement encouraging breach of the circumstances,” it added.
The general public gallery was stuffed with the defendants’ supporters, together with former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn, because the choose learn the verdicts out, in accordance with the PA information company.
Reacting to the ruling, Jamal’s Palestine Solidarity Marketing campaign mentioned “the struggle isn’t over” regardless of “a disgraceful determination” of the courtroom.
“Our proper to protest is valuable, and is undermined by this determination, however the struggle isn’t over,” it mentioned in a quick assertion on X.
“At present’s verdict will ship shockwaves by way of civil society. I consider the focusing on of Ben and Chris, two outstanding civil society leaders, is political and meant to intimidate and silence dissenting voices of the UK’s ongoing assist for an Israeli authorities liable for a listing of worldwide crimes,” mentioned Yasmine Ahmed, the UK director of Human Rights Watch.
“At present’s verdict lays naked the sheer scale of powers [the government] now possesses to silence dissent by way of its alarmingly repressive anti-protest legal guidelines. This verdict is a black mark on British democracy and will disgrace a major minister who constructed his profession defending human rights.”
On April 11, crowds of protesters are expected to gather again in London to exhibit their assist for Palestine Action, a direct motion group whose activists have been arrested and tried in latest months.
Up to now, hundreds of peaceable protesters have additionally been arrested for indicators studying: “I oppose genocide, I assist Palestine Motion”.
Since Israel’s genocidal struggle on Gaza started in October 2023, tens of hundreds of Britons have rallied in assist of Palestine.
Human Rights Watch has mentioned its analysis discovered a “disproportionate focusing on” of pro-Palestine protesters, “undermining the best to protest freely and with out worry of harassment”.
