Palestine Solidarity Campaign head Ben Jamal pleads not guilty after London arrest

The director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has pleaded not guilty to breaking police restrictions imposed on a pro-Palestinian protest in January.

Ben Jamal appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday after the police charged him with breaking the Public Order Act. Jamal pleaded not guilty to three charges against him. 

The activist is one of 77 pro-Palestine protesters arrested by the police last month after the police issued restrictions that banned demonstrators from gathering outside the BBC in central London.

The restrictions at the time shocked organisers, who said they submitted plans for the protest route months in advance in November 2024.

The police said the restrictions were in response to concerns raised by senior Jewish leaders who said it would disrupt the function of a nearby synagogue. 

Protest organisers disputed the claim, highlighting that previous protests had set off from the BBC without disrupting the synagogue’s activities. 

Since October 2023, PSC, Friends of Al Aqsa, the Stop the War Coalition, the Muslim Association of Britain and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament have organised dozens of national marches for Palestine through Central London. 

January’s protest marked a turning point for Britain’s Palestine movement, which saw the most arrests since protests began after Israel launched war on the Gaza Strip.

Outside Friday’s proceedings, dozens gathered to support Jamal and condemn the police crackdown on public protest.

Chris Nineham, the Stop the War Coalition co-convener, was also arrested during the January protest. He was among the protesters standing outside the court supporting Jamal.

Nineham also appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court last Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to breaking the Public Order Act.

During his pre-trial hearing, District Judge Neeta Minhas dropped bail conditions that prohibited Nineham from attending protests organised by the PSC.