Defend Our Juries’ civil disobedience necessary to challenge genocidal policies

_London - _CAGE International  notes the civil disobedience campaign initiated by Defend Our Juries  which is another landmark moment in its history of campaign work against repressive laws 

This includes solidarity with the peaceful protest action being planned for 9 August 2025.  

Hundreds of demonstrators – some over 80 years old - have been arrested for carrying posters in support of Palestine Action. Others have been harassed by police for simply waving Palestinian flags and calling for an end to the Gaza genocide. The injustice that led to Guantanamo is now being rebranded to label lawful protests as support for  terrorism. 

Moazzam Begg, Senior Director at CAGE International, said:

“Historically, civil disobedience has been employed in this country, as well as by the American Civil Rights Movement and the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa to challenge unjust and oppressive laws.” 

“This action is not about Palestine Action, but wider issues of how anti-terror legislation curtails basic freedoms and undermines the rule of law which CAGE International has highlighted over 22 years. There can be no doubt that such laws have been, and continue to be abused and exploited, to suppress free speech and put in place an oppressive infrastructure that represents a danger to our civil liberties.”

“In such moments, all those who resist are acting in the public interest and are motivated by the desire to protect fundamental principles of fairness, equality and justice.”

“How can it be a crime to call for an end to apartheid and genocide? The planned action on 9 August is motivated by the highest moral principles that have underpinned our society and made it the envy of the world.”

“We cannot and should not allow our basic rights to be shredded by an authoritarian government. It is not terrorism for all right-thinking people to demand our government stops all support for a regime that is engaged daily in war crimes and genocide. Let us be under no illusion. The government is criminalising the people of Britain for standing up against the biggest genocide of the 21st century, as it's livestreamed from Gaza. That is why it must be opposed.”