Peter Tatchell, a renowned activist and gay rights campaigner, has been arrested for holding a placard bearing the phrase 'globalise the intifada' at a pro-Palestine march in London. The 74-year-old was taken to Sutton police station in south London after police claimed the word 'intifada' was unlawful. Tatchell, who attended a Palestine solidarity march on Saturday, held a sign that read: 'Globalise the intifada: Non-violent resistance. End Israel’s occupation of Gaza & West Bank.' He called his arrest an 'attack on free speech' and said it was part of a dangerous trend to increasingly restrict and criminalise peaceful protests. The Arab word 'intifada' means uprising, rebellion, or resistance against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. It does not imply violence or antisemitism, but rather targets the Israeli regime and its war crimes. Tatchell's arrest comes after the Metropolitan police announced in December that protesters chanting 'globalise the intifada' would be arrested due to the 'changed context' following the Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney. Three people were charged with expressing support for an intifada against Israel's war crimes and genocide at a London rally last month. Tatchell has a history of defending Jewish people against antisemitism and joined the March Against Antisemitism with the chief rabbi and thousands of Jewish people in November 2023. He is taking legal action against the Met over a previous arrest for a racially and religiously aggravated offence, where he was wrongfully detained for holding a placard that read: 'Stop Israel genocide! Stop Hamas executions! Odai Al-Rubai, aged 22, executed by Hamas! RIP!'. This incident raises questions about the boundaries of free speech and the potential for overreach in law enforcement, inviting discussion and debate on the matter.
