Arabic version: محكمة المملكة المتحدة تبرئ نشطاء في قضية موقع الأسلحة البارزة
All defendants in the Filton24 case in the United Kingdom have been acquitted of aggravated burglary at a UK branch of Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms company. This decision came after prosecutors stated they could not provide evidence to support the charges during a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court. The Crown Prosecution Service’s inability to proceed has led to a significant legal victory for the defendants, who are associated with the proscribed campaign group Palestine Action.
The Filton24 Defence Committee announced that five of the defendants, who had been on remand for 14 to 18 months, would be released following the court’s ruling. However, one individual will need to secure bail for a separate case before being released. This acquittal marks a notable success for the pro-Palestine community in the UK, particularly following a recent High Court ruling that deemed the government’s ban on Palestine Action as unlawful and disproportionate.
This case is particularly significant as it represents the second major win for Palestine Action in a short time. Previously, six defendants from the Filton24 were acquitted of aggravated burglary, which is the most serious charge they faced and carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Additionally, three defendants, including Zoe Rogers, Fatema Zainab Rajwani, and Jordan Devlin, were acquitted of violent disorder, while the jury could not reach verdicts on other counts.
A spokesperson from the Filton24 Defence Committee described the acquittal as a “significant victory,” emphasizing that the charges were perceived as tools for repressing the defendants and justifying their prolonged detention. The spokesperson highlighted that the legal proceedings had exceeded the typical six-month custody limit.
Looking ahead, prosecutors have indicated that there will be a retrial concerning the charges on which no verdicts were reached. Several defendants are expected to apply for bail in the upcoming weeks, as the legal battles surrounding pro-Palestine activism continue amidst a backdrop of protests and public demonstrations in the UK against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
