Masked officers of a vindictive state: Qesser Zuhrah released on bail following new charges relating to social media posts

London — Following public pressure, Qesser Zuhrah has been released on bail, after being charged under Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act. This follows her arrest yesterday allegedly in relation to social media posts calling for direct action. She appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning. 

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Qesser was only recently released in February after 15 months of unlawful remand, during which time she was subjected to abuses in custody and undertook a hunger strike in protest at her treatment. In a press conference last week, Qesser and the other former Filton24 prisoners expressed their intent to take legal action against the prisons for their treatment. That she has been re-arrested so soon after her release - by masked officers, in scenes more reminiscent of an ICE operation than routine British policing - speaks to the level of state hostility directed at those who dare to stand in solidarity with Palestine. When the court failed to deliver the convictions the State sought, the response was escalation. She had barely begun to recover when the state came for her again.

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Naila Ahmed, Head of Campaigns at CAGE International, said:

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"Qesser Zuhrah's re-arrest is a continuation of the active repression targeting pro-Palestine activists across the UK. These laws were not misapplied or stretched beyond their intent - they were designed precisely to criminalise political speech and dissent, and that is exactly what they are doing here. CAGE's position is unambiguous: terrorism legislation should be abolished in its entirety. It has never been a tool of public protection - it is and has always been a tool of political control, used to police those who challenge state power and silence those who speak out against injustice. We have already seen this in the repeated targeting of individuals such as Dr Rahmeh and humanitarian activist Majid Freeman, who have faced arrest and harassment for their online advocacy. 

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The goal is to deter solidarity with Palestine and to keep people in line through fear. But Qesser will not bend the knee to oppressive power. She will emerge from this stronger and more resolute in our collective pursuit of justice and the liberation of all prisoners. These tactics will not succeed."

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