Moazzam Begg, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, was among 365 people arrested in Westminster’s Parliament Square during a mass protest in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action. The Metropolitan Police said the arrests took place on Saturday in one of the largest mass detention operations in recent years.
The demonstration, organised by Defend Our Juries, saw participants openly display placards reading “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” in defiance of the Terrorism Act 2000, which makes membership of or support for the banned group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Organisers said the protest aimed to test whether the law could be enforced and to overwhelm the criminal justice system.
Police began making arrests shortly after 12.35pm, first surrounding an activist holding the message. Begg, 57, was seen earlier sitting on a wall holding a sign with the same wording before being detained and led away to chants of “Shame on you!” from fellow protesters. One demonstrator shouted at officers: “Get your hands off Moazzam!”
Begg was captured by authorities in Pakistan in 2002, held at Bagram air base in Afghanistan for a year, and transferred to Guantanamo Bay in 2003. He was released in 2005 following UK government pressure and later received a settlement after suing British authorities over alleged complicity in his detention. He is now a senior director at Cage International, a group that campaigns against anti-terror legislation.
The Metropolitan Police said between 500 and 600 people were present when the protest began, though many were bystanders, journalists, or people not carrying placards supporting Palestine Action. Those whose details were confirmed during processing were bailed with conditions not to attend further pro-Palestine Action protests, while others who refused to give details were taken into custody.
Among the first arrested was William Hancock from Kingston upon Thames, who said he was detained for holding up a sign in support of the group. One pensioner told reporters: “I’m prepared to be arrested. It’s a very small price for what’s happening in Gaza.”
Seven further arrests were made for other offences, including five for assaults on police officers. The protest took place days after the first three people in England and Wales were charged with supporting Palestine Action since the ban.