Saying that the price of democracy is eternal vigilance against authoritarian tendencies, Gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell warns this week that the police are exceeding their lawful powers against Palestinian solidarity protesters. In a powerful press release, Mr Tatchell said

"Peaceful protesters in the UK are being unjustly arrested under terrorism laws simply for sitting silently, applauding, talking about karaoke & trying to set up a soap box. The arrests are now being challenged in the courts. This crackdown is unlawful & authoritarian.

Peter Tatchell has been arrested in Moscow under similar circumstances. The Met Police are copying Putin's playbook. Democracies must never criminalise peaceful protest or allow anti-terror laws to silence legitimate dissent.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Defend the right to peaceful protest!"

Progressive news site Novaramediad adds that campaign groups have accused the Metropolitan police of detaining individuals who were not in breach of the law during a protest in support of Palestine Action outside Westminster magistrates' court. Organisers behind the demonstration say that some of those held had neither shown nor voiced any backing for the proscribed organisation.

The protest on Thursday marked the latest move in an ongoing effort to have the ban on the direct action group lifted. Beforehand, the organising collective Defend Our Juries said they anticipated "hundreds" of attendees would openly express solidarity with Palestine Action and call on police officers to join them—an act that could fall foul of sections 11 and 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The Met has now confirmed that 117 arrests were made during the protest.

Defend Our Juries has, however, insisted that a number of those arrested had not demonstrated any support for the group, but were merely standing close to others who had crossed the legal line. A spokesperson for the organisation told Novara Media that officers did not always wait to hear the phrase "I support Palestine Action" before moving in, and that in some instances they simply detained "anyone that was within the cordon".

"They're arresting people who seemingly aren't in breach," the spokesperson added.

One woman who was at the demonstration described being held under section 12 despite having committed no offence. Speaking to Novara Media, she said: "I clapped. That was it. […] I was here just to watch."