Anti-terrorism laws in UK abused to silence anti-Israel voices
British counter-terrorism police have raided the North London home of investigative journalist and researcher, Asa Winstanley.
Approximately ten officers arrived at Winstanley's home just before 6 am and served the journalist with warrants authorizing them to search his house and vehicle for devices and documents.
Officers informed the associate editor of the Electronic Intifada news website that the raid was linked to online posts he had made, and that they were being investigated for possible encouragement of terrorism. Winstanley, however, was not arrested and hasn't been charged with anything yet.
Human rights observers say the raid is yet another example of the government trying to smash anti-Israel dissent and intimidate others from speaking out about the regime's endless atrocities.
Terrorism legislation has always been misused, and unfortunately, now we are seeing it being misused against a journalist, and this is outrageous. This should not be allowed to take place, let alone continue.
Massoud Shadjareh, Islamic Human Rights Commission
The raid on Asa Winstanley's home is just the latest example of counter-terrorism legislation being used against journalists in a country that claims to be a safe haven for free speech and journalistic integrity.
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Yet in recent months, the UK has used far-reaching powers against prominent journalists such as Kit Klarenberg and Richard Medhurst as well as human rights campaigners such as Sarah Wilkinson.
Campaigners fear that these types of raids are intended to silence all opposition to the crimes being committed by Israel and to normalize them in the eyes of the world.
It's not Gaza that is at stake, it is not Lebanon that is at stake, it is not Iran or Syria (that is) at stake, (it) is the future of humanity (that is) at stake. If we allow the Axis of Genocide to create normalization of genocide as a means of addressing conflicts, and that becomes the norm, then there is no hope for the future of humanity.
Massoud Shajareh, Islamic Human Rights Commission
Fears that the UK government's descent into authoritarianism will be one of the legacies of their material support for Israel abound, with no end in sight for their financial, political and military support for the Israeli genocide in Palestine and Lebanon.
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