Dozens of individuals have ignored a police attraction to not present seen or vocal assist for a banned group throughout a Professional Palestinian protest in Edinburgh.
A whole lot of individuals turned out to demand an finish to UK arms gross sales to Israel.
Many additionally displayed assist for Palestine Motion, a gaggle that was banned by the UK authorities below terrorism legal guidelines earlier this 12 months.
Forward of the motion, police warned anybody attending the occasion that officers would uphold the regulation however added that any police response can be “proportionate”.
Palestine Motion was proscribed as a terror group earlier this year after activists broke into an RAF base.
A whole lot of individuals have since been arrested over alleged assist for the group.
Former First Minister Humza Yousaf not too long ago referred to as for Scotland’s prime regulation officer to exempt peaceful protesters who backed Palestine Action from prosecution.
He mentioned it was not within the public curiosity to prosecute non-violent people who expressed assist for the organisation.
Nevertheless, the Solicitor Common for Scotland Ruth Charteris rejected the request on behalf of Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain.
Forward of the the demonstration in Edinburgh – certainly one of a variety of protests this weekend throughout the nation over a variety of points – police put out an announcement outlining how they dealt with such occasions.
“Campaigning and demonstration are a official, crucial and important a part of life,” it mentioned.
“We need to shield the rights of people that want to peacefully protest and counter protest.”
The pressure added that officers labored with teams to make sure they understood what may very well be completed with out breaking the regulation.
“We’re pleased with our strategy and really feel it is necessary to be clear on what turns into illegal behaviour,” it added.
“Abusive, threatening behaviour or exercise supposed to disrupt an occasion that poses a threat to security shouldn’t be official protest.”
The assertion added that police have been conscious there had been a current give attention to the proscription of Palestine Motion and harassed that call had been taken by the UK authorities.
“We all know there are sturdy emotions in the direction of the state of affairs in Palestine and folks proceed to precise their views about that by protest and demonstrations with out breaking counter terrorism legal guidelines,” it mentioned.
“The important thing distinction is displaying assist for Palestine Motion Group as it’s an offence below the Terrorism Act 2000 to be a member of a proscribed organisation or to ask or categorical assist for them.
“This consists of carrying clothes or carrying any merchandise in public in such a means as to arouse suspicion that they’re a member of, or a supporter of, a proscribed organisation.”
It added that any police response can be “proportionate” they usually have been grateful for the “ongoing assist” of communities.
There have been additionally demonstrations exterior the Scottish Parliament by anti-immigration campaigners and the group Stand As much as Racism.
