Prominent Muslim activist and former Guantanamo Bay detainee, Moazzam Begg, was arrested in London alongside hundreds other activists while participating in the latest pro-Palestine Action protest since the direct action group’s proscription.
Mr Begg, who was detained by U.S. authorities between 2002 and 2005 before his release without charge, was among hundreds of protesters arrested for holding up signs that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
The large scale protest is the biggest of its kind since the direct action group Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK on July 5, 2025.
Speaking before his arrest, Moazzam explained why he was taking part in the protest.
“I’ve faced anti-terror legislation in this country many times. I’ve been persecuted by the state several times. It seems like the persecution of Palestine Action is just one step beyond and to target people who are trying to stop a genocide is completely deplorable. I am certain Britain will have to eventually repeal the proscription of Palestine Action.”
Mr. Begg was released from U.S. custody in 2005 following pressure from the UK government, but later received a settlement after suing the British authorities for alleged complicity in his detention.
Since his release from Guantanamo, Begg has authored multiple books and works as a senior director at CAGE International.
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In response to his arrest, CAGE International posted on X: “Moazzam has been arrested after he participated in mass civil disobedience action against the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The government can pass any laws it wishes. But resistance against a genocide will never be defeated, and compassion towards suffering can not be caged. We salute Moazzam and Defend our Juries for leading the nations conscience against one of the greatest evils of our time.”
At 3pm, London Met Police posted on X claiming that they had arrested 150 protesters however, at the time of the post many more protesters remained at Parliament Square, suggesting the final number will likely be higher.
“Arrest update: We’ve now arrested 150 people in Parliament Square. While many of those remaining in the Square are media and onlookers, there are still people holding placards supporting Palestine Action. Officers are steadily working through the crowd making further arrests.”
Hundreds of people have risked arrest as they descend on London to show support for Palestine Action in defiance of its ban as a terror group.
Defend Our Juries, which organised the demonstration, said in a post on X: “Approximately a thousand protestors sat in Parliament Square with signs which read ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’ In a collective act of resistance, people are risking their liberty for our civil liberties and for the Palestinian people.”
Earlier in the week, Counter-terror police shut down an online planning meeting for supporters of Palestine Action ahead of today’s protest.
A large number of people had logged on to a Zoom briefing on Thursday night to receive final instructions before the mass demonstration in Westminster.
But as Defend Our Juries, the organisers, were outlining plans for the gathering, including offering legal advice, Scotland Yard intervened and pulled the plug on the online meeting.
Background to the ban
The Home Office officially banned Palestine Action last month under the Terrorism Act 2000, which means that membership of, or expressions of support for, the group are now criminal offences.
The decision followed an incident in June when activists broke into RAF base Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, sprayed red paint over two Voyager aircraft, and caused an estimated £7 million worth of damage.
Four individuals have been charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited site. All four remain in custody.
The incident also prompted a nationwide security review across all UK military bases.
Palestine Action has led a series of direct actions targeting arms manufacturers linked to Israeli military operations since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023.
Now that Palestine Action is on the UK terror list, anyone caught expressing support or being a member of the group faces a 14 year jail sentence.
However, despite police pledges to continue arresting anyone found expressing support for the banned group, large numbers of protesters continue to flout the law.
Demonstrations in past weeks have also occurred in Manchester, Cardiff and other major towns and cities across the UK with little sign suggesting the campaign is fizzling out of momentum.
