UK Protests Erupt Amid Fears of Free Speech Crackdown: 47 Arrested in London

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Protests in support of the banned group Palestine Action have swept across the UK, with demonstrations in over 20 towns and cities. The movement has been met with a heavy police presence, resulting in 47 arrests in London alone. The arrests came as protesters brandished banners reading 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,' sparking concerns over the UK's terrorism laws and the risk of up to six months in prison for those charged. The protests are taking place ahead of a crucial court case next week, in which the group's co-founder Huda Ammori will challenge the ban on Palestine Action. The group was added to the UK's terrorism blacklist in July, along with other organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, after being accused of carrying out acts of vandalism on Israel-linked sites. Critics, including the United Nations and human rights groups like Amnesty International and Greenpeace, have condemned the ban as a threat to free speech. Elizabeth, a 54-year-old doctor and protester, expressed her concerns over the government's actions, stating, 'I'm afraid that there will come a time, very soon, where there won't be any civil liberty.' The ban has already resulted in over 2,000 arrests, with more than 254 people charged with supporting the group. In a separate development, six protesters accused of breaking into an Israel-based defense firm's UK site last year and causing £1 million in damage appeared in court on Monday, with a group of protesters gathered outside, chanting 'Free Palestine.' The jailed activists linked to Palestine Action have launched a hunger strike, demanding to be released on bail and calling for the group to be de-proscribed. As the situation unfolds, concerns over the UK's approach to free speech and the treatment of protesters continue to grow.