Emergency protest: Justice for Gaza-London protesters this Friday

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The protest will take place at 9.30am this Friday 26th February 2010 at: Isleworth Crown court, 36 Ridgeway Road, London, TW7 5LP (nearest tube: Osterley, Piccadilly line)

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, British Muslim Initiative and Stop the War coalition have called a protest outside Isleworth Crown Court this Friday against the shocking sentences given to those who protested against Israel’s assault on Gaza last year as a ‘deterrent’ for future protesters.

Seventeen people - all Muslim - have already been given extremely harsh and disproportionate custodial sentences to the alleged offence of violent disorder. Last week, a 19 year old aspiring to be a dentist, was sentenced to a year in prison for throwing a water bottle in the direction of the Israeli embassy. Despite the judge’s admission that the young man had an excellent character and the bottle thrown did not hurt anyone, he wanted ‘to send a message of deterrent to the rest of the community’.

The court has also failed to take into account any evidence of police brutality - including beating up protesters and refusing to allow them to leave - and had used the controversial “kettling” technique.

The sentences - primarily targeted towards the Muslim community - will only serve to alienate and criminalise British Muslims, deterring them from engaging in their democratic right to protest. It also undermines efforts aimed at building trust between the Muslims and the police.

We are demanding that the right of protest is respected. We are also calling for the immediate freedom of the protesters who committed no crime, but who are being victimised for peacefully protesting against Israel’s massacre of Palestinians in Gaza.

PUBLIC MEETING ON JAILING OF GAZA PROTESTERS

Next Tuesday March 2nd, 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm, Committee room 19, House of Commons (St Stephens entrance, allow plenty of time to get through security).

Confirmed speakers include:

Jeremy Corbyn MP

George Galloway MP

Betty Hunter, PSC

Andrew Murray, Stop the War

British Muslim Initiative

Organised by Stop the War, PSC, BMI and supported by CND

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Guardian CIF: This tide of anti-Muslim hatred is a threat to us all

For more information about these arrest and the impact on the muslim community read this excellent article by Seumas Milne in today’s Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/feb/25/anti-muslim-hatred-threat-to-all