Activist Peter Tatchell claims arrest over intifada placard was ‘nonsense’

Activist Peter Tatchell said he faces a “nonsense” allegation he committed a public order offence after he was arrested for carrying a placard reading “globalise the intifada” at a pro-Palestine protest.

The human rights campaigner said he was held for an “unjustified and excessively prolonged” 12 hours without charge following his arrest at a march in Aldwych, central London, on Saturday.

The 74-year-old has since been bailed under investigation, with conditions including a ban on attending Palestine protests, his foundation said.

Tatchell was carrying a sign that read “Globalise the intifada: Non-violent resistance. End Israel’s occupation of Gaza & West Bank” at the Palestine Coalition protest.

In a statement released by the Peter Tatchell Foundation on Monday, the activist said: “From my arrest at 1.26pm to my release at 1.40am the next day, I was in police custody a total of 12 hours without charge, including 10 hours in the cells for what is a minor alleged public order offence.

“It was an unjustified and excessively prolonged detention.”

Following an arrest, suspects can generally be held in police custody for up to 24 hours before they must be charged or released.

The foundation said Tatchell has been accused of a “racially aggravated offence” under Section 5 of the Public Order Act, an allegation the campaigner labelled “nonsense”.

He said: “The police allegation is nonsense. My placard was not threatening or abusive and did not mention anyone’s race.

“The police are fabricating the law. They claim the word intifada is unlawful. The word intifada is not a crime in UK law. The police are suppressing free speech without legal justification.

“Even if people disagree with the words on my placard, in a free and democratic society they should not be criminalised.

“This is just the latest example of officers restricting and criminalising peaceful protests.”

The Metropolitan Police said in December that protesters chanting “globalise the intifada” would now be arrested because the “context has changed” in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack in Australia.

In a post on X on Saturday, the Met said: “Officers policing the Palestine Coalition protest have arrested a 74-year-old man on suspicion of a public order offence. He was seen carrying a sign including the words ‘globalise the intifada’.”

The force declined to comment further.