Calmth
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Not protests, but riots

In recent months, we have witnessed increasingly violent gatherings taking place across cities in Europe, but also specifically in the United Kingdom, under the guise of ‘protests,’ particularly in relation to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Despite claims of peaceful intent, these events have rapidly descended into acts of violence against Jewish communities, synagogues, shops, and individuals. Yet rather than being classified as legitimate expressions of dissent, they must instead be understood within the framework of organized criminal activity – specifically, rioting. This distinction matters greatly because while genuine protests enjoy legal protection, participation in riots constitutes a serious offense subject to severe penalties under UK law.

What is a protest?

In the context of UK law, a protest refers to a demonstration or public expression of objection, disapproval, or dissent against a particular cause, policy, or action. The right to peaceful protest is generally protected in the United Kingdom as an essential part of freedom of expression. Citizens have the right to assemble and express their opinions in a peaceful manner.

The right to assemble peacefully is protected under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) of the Council of Europe, incorporated into UK law through the Human Rights Act 1998.

It is not a protest

The problem with the gatherings in the United Kingdom is that they don’t fit the definition of the term “protest.” After all, it would require an expression of objection, disapproval, or dissent. By extension, a pro-Palestinian protest doesn’t exist. However, neither does a protest in support of a ceasefire. They are not about objection, disapproval, or dissent, but the exact opposite. Therefore, they are not protected by any right of protest, and only the right of peaceful assembly would possibly apply.

When it’s not a right

Many people tend to believe that when something is a right, there’s no further need to consider anything else. However, in the case of the freedom of expression, there’s a clear note that it may be subject to “formalities, conditions, restrictions, or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interest of national security, territorial integrity, or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.”

The very same applies when it comes to the freedom of peaceful assembly.

2023 12 14 17 40 05 Archives 1950 Convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental fr 1

The UK Law

So, in accordance with human rights, the UK law could, in fact, disallow peaceful assembly. And the UK law is clear if you know where to look. Any lawyer or judge would advise you to look at possible criminal offenses. So, let’s do that, shall we? Or simply, let’s look at one that anyone should have been able to think of.

When people think of rioting, they might envision crowds fighting, possibly setting the place ablaze. However, this is not how it’s recognized by law in the UK, nor in most countries, actually. According to the British Public Order Act 1986, revised on the 2nd of July 2023:

2023 12 14 16 10 16 Public Order Act 1986 1

Yes, you read it right; the presence of a threat of unlawful violence is enough; there’s no need for actual use. And this is very important in the current situation.

What this would mean

The reality is that the UK law would recognize the current gatherings as riots due to the common threat of unlawful violence against Jewish people, with many Jews fearing for their lives. It’s up to a judge to convict anyone on this charge, but this wouldn’t change the fact that the British monarch, the British government, and the British police all have the responsibility to protect and act upon UK law. Meaning that in the current situation, the gatherings should be banned, as they’re not protests and neither protected under any right or law. The exact opposite.

Conclusion

And yet, nobody acts. From my perspective, it’s kind of obvious. After all, Jewish people are noteworthy for not resorting to violence in these situations. They live by the law, as we are all supposed to.

However, this exposes a huge problem. The current situation essentially states that you are above the law once you have a large enough group to threaten large-scale violence. It shows a grave failure of law and all our common values…


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Hi there! I'm a boy from Poland, originally from Belarus. Living life to the fullest despite a rare genetic condition. Fluent in Polish, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Russian, German, and English. I have a passion for ballroom dance and dance in general, enjoy football and chess, and love exploring new places through travel.