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A pensioner, Marji Mansfield, never thought she would be suspected of terrorism for protesting the prohibition of a pro-Palestinian organization.
However, on July 5, the 68-year-old British grandmother was arrested for participating in a demonstration supporting Palestine Action shortly after it was placed on the UK government’s list of banned groups.
“It’s shocking to be labeled a terrorist,” Mansfield, a devoted grandmother of seven, shared with AFP.
The former banking consultant from Chichester admitted she had never been politically engaged. “I just worked hard, raised my family, and led a normal life.”
In early July, the UK government outlawed Palestine Action under the UK’s Terrorism Act following activist break-ins at an air force base in England that caused damage to two aircraft.
Since that decision, the group Defend Our Juries has organized protests nationwide to contest the ban, which the United Nations rights chief described as “disproportionate.”
According to Tim Crosland from Defend Our Juries, over 200 individuals have been arrested, facing possible prison sentences of up to 14 years.
Another demonstration supporting Palestine Action, which was established in 2020, is scheduled for Saturday in London, with organizers anticipating at least 500 attendees.
Police have warned that all participants could face arrest.
Interior Minister Yvette Cooper asserted that many people are unaware of the true nature of this group, claiming, “this is not a non-violent group.”
However, Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, has initiated legal action to challenge the ban, and a hearing is set for November.
An open letter advocating the repeal of the ban was signed by 52 scholars, including prominent authors Tariq Ali and Naomi Klein, and published in Thursday’s Guardian, calling the prohibition an infringement on “fundamental freedoms of expression, association, assembly, and protest.”
Mansfield has long been an advocate for the Palestinian cause, but the recent escalation of conflict following Hamas's attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, motivated her to take action.
“Seeing the devastation—the destruction of children’s homes and schools—was heartbreaking,” she remarked. According to an AFP tally based on official data, Hamas's attacks on southern Israel killed 1,219 individuals, predominantly civilians.
In response, Israel’s operation against Hamas in Gaza has resulted in over 60,000 deaths, mostly civilians, based on figures from the Hamas-led health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.
For Mansfield, the ban on Palestine Action was the tipping point, intensifying her feeling that the government was suppressing her political opinions.
The evening prior to the July protest, Mansfield revealed she felt “terrified,” but she remained resolute. British media captured images of her being escorted by police after she refused to vacate the pavement.
An elderly woman, 83, was beside her. Mansfield was detained for 12 hours and is now prohibited from certain areas in London, limiting her ability to visit museums with her grandchildren.
“We were just ordinary people,” said Mansfield. “We came from all walks of life … we’re not terrorists.”
Alice Clark, a 49-year-old doctor, similarly harbors no regrets about attending the protest on July 19, where she was arrested.
“Nobody wants to be detained. I feel a sense of obligation,” Clark stated, asserting that the government is compromising “our civil liberties.”
Cooper defended the ban on Palestine Action, claiming it was based on “detailed security assessments and security advice,” mentioning that the group’s “methods have become more aggressive” and promoted harmful actions leading to extensive damages. However, Clark, a former volunteer with Doctors Without Borders, expressed her “growing disgust and horror” at images depicting starving children in Gaza.
Her 12-hour detention following her arrest was a shocking experience. If found guilty, she faces the possibility of losing her medical license. “There were moments when I was nearly in tears. But remembering my reasons for participating helped me stay calm,” Clark remarked.
Zahra Ali, an 18-year-old history student, was also arrested on July 19 and released under supervision. None of the three women has been formally charged.
Ali expressed her outrage at the situation in Gaza, stating, “The starvation in Gaza is appalling. And our government is doing nothing about it.” The prospect of being imprisoned at 18 is daunting for her, yet she feels encouraged by the actions of older individuals.
“If people in their 80s can do it, so can I,” Ali conveyed. She doesn’t see herself as an activist but as “a normal person … who believes our government’s actions are wrong.”
