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


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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