Liberal Democrats asked to review the Terrorism Act, which was used to arrest hundreds of supporters of restricted group Palestine Action, warning that it risks a “chilling effect” on free speech.
Last week, the Metropolitan police arrested more than 500 people in a demonstration supporting the group, which was banned in July.
At the beginning of this week, Home Secretary Yvet Cooper said that the group was “not a non -violent organization” and had decided to ban the group on the basis of “clear security assessment”.
The separate, equality and Human Rights Commission has expressed concern about policing of demonstrations related to events in Gaza, West Bank and Israel.
However, the Commission specified that its concerns were about the protests “not associated with any accused organization”.
Writing home secretary and met police chief Mark RowleThe chairman of the commission, Baronon Kishwar Faulkner said, “We are concerned that some recent reactions cannot make the right balance between security and fundamental rights”.
“Heavy policing or blankets risk creating a cool effect, preventing citizens from exercising their fundamental rights for expression of possible consequences and freedom of assembly.”
The government banned Palestine’s action after the group claimed responsibility for spraying of jets in RAF Bryz Norton Red.
This means that membership or support for the group became a criminal offense, taking a sentence of up to 14 years.
Earlier this year, the group won permission to challenge the ban and their case will be heard in the High Court in November.
At a rally in his support in Central London, “I oppose the genocide. I display Palestine Action”, was organized by protesters, of which hundreds were arrested.
The Met Police said that this was the biggest arrest in the same day in the last 10 years.
Lisa Smart, spokesman for Liberal Democrats Home Affairs, said that while the party “has recognized the serious nature of the activities of this group … we are deeply concerned about the use of terrorism powers against peaceful protesters in this context”.
While writing to the independent reviewer of the Terrorism Act Jonathan Hall KC, Smart said that individuals should face serious consequences “to oppose violence, anti-Jewish misconduct or protest”.
However, he argued that such tasks could be prosecuted under various laws already including the Public Order Act.
He said that the use of the Terrorism Act said “This week has a cooling effect on free speech and legitimate democratic dissatisfaction on both a disturbing example and risk to arrest people who exercise their rights of peaceful protest at this week”.
He urged Mr. Hall to review parts of the Act used to arrest and “Consider whether the law needs amendment to prevent future misuse”.
Mr. Hall is different from the government, but has high level approval and is given access to national security information.
Earlier this week, the arrest was pressurized, Ywette Cooper stated that Palestine’s action was “involved in violent attacks” and “major criminal damage against national security infrastructure”.
He told the BBC: “There can be people who do not know the complete nature of this organization, who do not know the complete nature of this organization due to court restrictions on reporting, while serious prosecution is going on.
“But it is really important that no one is in any doubt that it is not a non -violent organization.”
