UK activists convicted, raising alarms over protest rights

A coalition of British civil society groups condemned the convictions of Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and Chris Nineham, vice-chairman of the Stop the War Coalition. The two were found guilty of breaching protest guidelines during a pro-Palestine demonstration in January 2025. The groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, described the ruling as indicative of an 'authoritarian' approach to protest in the UK.

In a letter, the organizations stated, 'Jamal and Nineham’s convictions are a testament to how far this country has swung towards adopting authoritarian approaches to protest.' They warned that the case exemplifies the extensive powers police now possess to suppress peaceful protest. Jamal and Nineham were sentenced to 18 and 12 months’ conditional discharge, respectively, and both are appealing their convictions.

The convictions come amid increased scrutiny of the UK’s crackdown on pro-Palestine activism, particularly following the ban on the direct action group Palestine Action. Amnesty International's recent report highlighted the UK's use of counterterror laws to limit peaceful protests, specifically referencing the arrests that led to Jamal and Nineham's convictions. The coalition of eight groups warned of a 'broader chilling effect' on protest efforts, emphasizing that recasting historical forms of protest as suspect risks undermining the rights those struggles secured.