In this powerful speech delivered on 24th October, Palestinian filmmaker, journalist and activist Saeed Taji Farouky exposes the close colonial ties between the Israeli and UK governments.
His audience had just taken part in a protest outside the Attorney General’s office in London – more than 300 people sitting and blocking the road, holding up placards with images of political prisoners from all around the world and throughout history, including the dozens of climate and anti-arms trade campaigners currently imprisoned in this country. They were calling for the release of these conscientious activists, and the restoration of the rights of protesters to defend themselves in court, to allow juries to hear the whole truth including the context and motivation for their actions. The campaign also wants an end to the corruption of our legal system, including the sacking of Lord Walney, who received income from climate and arms lobbyists prior to his “independent” report on protest and extremism.
Saeed drew parallels between the Israeli abuse of “administrative detention” – the arrest and imprisonment of Palestinians without due legal process or access to lawyers – and the recent use of terrorist powers in the UK in the arrest of Palestine Action activists and even UK journalists.
Remarkably, the Palestinian Prisoners Movement sent a message of solidarity and support from Ghazzah, read out by Saeed, perhaps illustrating the extent of repression we have reached here in the UK.
Arrested and found guilty himself over an action against Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, Saeed also talked about how the state’s criminalisation and imprisonment of protesters is actually a sign of weakness. In Palestine, 40% of the male population has been through the Israeli prison system at some point, and it is almost seen as a rite of passage and a victory as it shows that the state fears them.
Finishing this powerful and thought-provoking speech, he quoted a letter from young Palestine Action supporter Zoe Rogers, one of the #Filton10 currently on remand in prison for sabotaging Elbit’s state of the art manufacturing site in Bristol:
“I cannot stand for this. It can go on no longer, so I took action against Elbit, their weapons manufacturer. But I never forget to say that it was love and not hate that called me, watching their songs and dances for freedom, reading their hope-filled books, listening to their dreams of being doctors, teachers, journalists and never giving up.”