Wednesday 24 February 2010

Jailed for protesting against Israeli war crimes‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER No. 1142
24 February 2010
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

Israel's forged passports
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) JAILED FOR PROTESTING AGAINST ISRAELI WAR CRIMES
2) GORDON BROWN APPEARING AT IRAQ INQUIRY
3) JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY
4) IRAQ: THE PEOPLE'S DOSSIER PAMPHLET SELLING OUT

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1) JAILED FOR PROTESTING AGAINST ISRAELI WAR CRIMES

Young people who took part in the mass demonstrations against
Israel's attack on Gaza in January 2009 are being handed down
jail sentences for minor offences. A protest has been called
this Friday 26 February at Isleworth Crown Court and there
will be a public meeting, open to all, in Parliament next
Tuesday 2 March (details below).

Friday's protest and Tuesday's public meeting will be in
support of those now being treated so harshly by the courts,
and to defend our democratic right of protest.

Israel's barbarism -- which devastated Gaza and left 1400 dead
-- brought tens of thousands on to London's streets, including
the demonstration of over 100,000 on 10 January 2009.

Numerous complaints were made about police aggressive
behaviour on the Gaza demonstrations. Thousands of protestors
were 'kettled' -- illegally held for hours and only released
after the police had obtained their names and addresses.

In the months that followed the demonstrations, over 90
protestors were arrested -- most of them Muslims, many of them
teenagers, often in intimidating dawn raids. More than seventy
of those arrested were charged with disorder offences.

The courts are now hearing these cases. The defendants
pleading guilty are being tried first and the sentences have
been draconian. The judge has made clear that he is issuing
deterrent sentences.

We are seeing first-time offenders receiving two and a half
years imprisonment for minor offences which would not normally
face custodial sentences.

It is hard not to conclude that this is a concerted attempt by
the police and judiciary to criminalise protest, intimidating
in particular young Muslims.

Meanwhile, there has been no investigation into the aggressive
and often violent policing on the Gaza demonstrations, despite
the high level of complaints.

And while these young people are facing years in prison for
protesting against Israel's war crimes, no one is being held
to account for those crimes, which have been fully documented
by reports from the United Nations, Amnesty International,
Human Rights Watch and others.

FOR MORE BACKGROUND TO THE COURT CASES, GO TO:
http://bit.ly/daqyC7

FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY, 9.30AM
DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST
SUPPORT THE GAZA PROTESTORS
ISLEWORTH CROWN COURT
36 Ridgeway Road, Isleworth TW7 5LP
(nearest tube Osterley on the Piccadilly Line)

For more info: contact the Stop the War office: 020 7801 2768,
office@stopwar.org.uk

NEXT TUESDAY 2 MARCH 6.30 PM - 8.30 PM
PUBLIC MEETING ON JAILING OF GAZA PROTESTERS
Speakers include Jeremy Corbyn MP, George Galloway MP, Andrew
Murray (Stop the War), Betty Hunter (Palestine Solidarity
Campaign), speaker from British Muslim Initiative
COMMITTEE ROOM 19, HOUSE OF COMMONS, LONDON SW1
(St Stephens entrance, allow plenty of time to get through
security).
Organised by Stop the War, PSC, BMI and supported by CND.

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2) GORDON BROWN APPEARING AT IRAQ INQUIRY

Stop the War has called a protest at the Iraq Inquiry on
Friday 5 March when Prime minister Gordon Brown appears to
give evidence on his role in the run up to the Iraq war.

Our protest when Tony Blair appeared on 29 January received
world wide media coverage (SEE http://bit.ly/avPIQP ). Gordon
Brown has as much blood on his hands as Blair for an illegal
war that slaughtered around one million Iraqis. As chancellor
of the exchequer, he bankrolled the war and never publicly
distanced himself from plans as they were hatched for the
invasion of Iraq.

Since becoming prime minister, Brown has been zealous in
continuing the war policies of his predecessor, not least in
his support for the unwinnable war in Afghanistan, which the
latest BBC poll shows is opposed by two thirds of the British
public (SEE http://bit.ly/9meRQf ).

STOP THE WAR PROTEST AT THE IRAQ INQUIRY
BLOOD ON GORDON BROWN'S HANDS
ASSEMBLE 8.30 AM, QUEEN ELIZABETH CONFERENCE CENTRE,
BROAD SANCTUARY , WESTMINSTER SW1
(Nearest tubes St James's Park or Westminster)

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3) JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY

On the same day that Gordon Brown appears at the Iraq Inquiry,
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton will face his court martial hearing
in Colchester for refusing to return to fight in Afghanistan.

Stop the War will be protesting in support of Joe at the
court. Anyone in London wishing to know about transport for
travelling to the protest should contact the Stop the War
office: Email office@stopwar.org.uk, Tel: 020 7801 2768

SUPPORT L/CPL JOE GLENTON
FRIDAY 5 MARCH 9.30AM
MILITARY COURT CENTRE
MERVILLE BARRACKS, OFF BUTT RD
COLCHESTER C027UT

FOR MORE DETAILS OF JOE'S CASE AND FOR FURTHER UPDATES, SEE:
http://bit.ly/2vHCKR

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4) IRAQ: THE PEOPLE'S DOSSIER PAMPHLET SELLING OUT

Stop the War's latest pamphlet Iraq: The People's Dossier is
selling out fast. Order now to avoid disappointment. £2 + 50p
postage (£1 a copy for bulk orders of five or more).

TO ORDER GO TO: http://bit.ly/bJCnhs

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