Sue Parfitt, an 83-year-old retired priest from Bristol, has been arrested in the United Kingdom for taking a stand against the genocide in Gaza. The arrest took place just hours after the British government declared pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action a terrorist organization, according to a report by Middle East Eye.
Parfitt, a former Church of England priest, was arrested shortly after midnight on Saturday while holding a placard reading: “I am against genocide. I support Palestine Action.” Police detained her for holding this banner.
Following the British government’s designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, any expression of support for or involvement with the group has been made a criminal offense, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Palestine Action had appealed this decision in court, but on Friday the High Court rejected their request for an interim injunction. Later, the Court of Appeal also upheld the decision, and the ban came into effect from Saturday night.
Besides Parfitt, at least 27 others have been arrested since Saturday night for directly or indirectly expressing support for Palestine Action.
The arrests have sparked widespread outrage on social media. One user wrote, “This is a direct attack on freedom of expression. This is the advance of authoritarianism.” Another commented, “Is it now illegal to call Sue Parfitt a hero?” Others added that when the current nightmare ends, it will be these brave individuals we remember.
Parfitt’s friend, Jerry Hicks, stated: “She took a stand against genocide. That’s not a crime.”
