UK authorities have arrested the journalist and pro-Palestine political activist, Latifa Abouchakra, whilst on her way to attend an anti-Zionism event in Birmingham.
Abouchakra, 35, is the latest prominent pro-Palestine activist from the UK to be arrested by police for her political activism, as UK authorities unleash a harsh crackdown on pro-Palestine voices.
She was arrested whilst travelling to participate in the launch event of the Anti-Zionist Movement (AZM) – a newly formed group which advocates against “Jewish supremacy” and supports Palestinian resistance and activism.
“Today, in an act of political violence, West Midlands Police arrested Palestinian mother and journalist Latifa as she arrived to speak at our event,” AZM said in a statement.
“The Zionist lobby’s malicious assault on AZM puts their power over Britain on full display. Free Latifa Abouchakra now,” the statement added.
AZM targeted by police
AZM is a newly formed group which has drawn the attention of UK police, as well as pro-Israel lobbying groups, for stating that it is “unapologetically pro-armed resistance” in a now-deleted Instagram post.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Police later confirmed that the arrest was linked to broader security measures surrounding the gathering, which campaigners say was carried out under pressure from pro-Israel lobbying groups.
Abouchakra is a prominent figure on the Iranian broadcaster Press TV’s Palestine Declassified programme, where she is an outspoken critic of Israeli policies and Zionist influence on Western institutions.
The AZM launch event was meant to take place on Sunday at Birmingham’s Old Print Works but was cancelled by the original venue due to safety concerns.
The event still went ahead in Birmingham and was described as a “powerful success” by AZM.
“The zionist lobby mobilised British media and police to intimidate us. They failed. Their playbook is old and has been studied. This is just the beginning,” AZM said on a post on X.
The Birmingham-based organisation has described itself as “a Palestinian-led grassroots movement that’s unapologetically anti-Zionist, pro-armed resistance, upholds the Thawabet and campaigns against Jewish supremacy.”
Thawabet is usually understood as a term describing the red lines of the Palestinian struggle for liberation, representing core rights such as self-determination and the right to return.
Following the deleted post which stated it supported “pro-armed resistance”, AZM reposted the same post but omitted the phrase.
UK crackdown on pro-Palestine activism
Other scheduled speakers at the event included several prominent pro-Palestine voices, such as Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, a British Palestinian NHS doctor who was previously accused of antisemitism and arrested multiple times for social media posts related to pro-Palestine activism.
She was most recently arrested last month and has had her medical licence suspended by the NHS.
David Miller, a former University of Bristol professor who was dismissed in 2021 over antisemitism allegations, was also a scheduled speaker.
Abouchakra’s arrest comes at a time when the UK has been escalating its crackdown on pro-Palestine activism, and the lines between antisemitism and anti-Zionism have become increasingly blurred.
Police have been given more powers in the UK by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who have been using mass arrests as a tool to restrict protests.
The banning of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation in July 2025 marked a visible shift in the UK Labour government’s policy, with over 2,400 activists arrested by the Met Police for protesting the proscription of Palestine Action.
An official petition calling for a public inquiry into pro-Israel influence on politics and democracy has been growing rapidly following these developments.
The petition has reached over 20,000 signatures at the time of writing, whereby the government will be forced to respond.
The reasoning behind the petition expresses “concern” over reported Israeli state-linked pro-Israel lobbying activity in UK politics.
“We feel that the horrific devastation in Gaza, the ongoing suppression of Palestinians in the West Bank, and the UK’s political response underline the urgent need to scrutinise how pro-Israel organisations, networks, and lobbying efforts may shape government decisions, party policy, and public debate,” the petition reads.
