A new stencil artwork sprayed over the wall of the Queen’s Building of the Royal Courts of Justice in central London (Carey Street) was yesterday unveiled and confirmed by Bansky via his official Instagram account. The new mural was covered with sheets and metal barriers were put it up around it.
The artwork depicts a judge striking a protester lying on the floor, most likely referencing the ongoing criminalisation of free speech in the UK, particularly concerning public support for the pro-Palestinian direct-action group Palestine Action, which has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation. Under current legislation, expressing public support for a proscribed terrorist organisation can result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years and an unlimited fine.
The Metropolitan Police arrested up to 890 people last Saturday who publicly expressed support for Palestine Action. Palestine Action has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the British government following a series of actions in which it vandalised several military-industrial production sites, as well as damaging two fighter aircraft at a Royal Air Force base in Lancashire. Among some their actions they targeted the production sites of Elbit Systems Sites, an Israeli weapons manufacturer.
Up to 42 Palestine Action activists are currently detained and face up to 14 years in prison over charges that include aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder.
Overall concerns on legislation and enforcement of laws on free speech have been growing as last year up to 12,000 people were arrested in the UK over offences regarding online speech. Only a small share of these arrests led to prosecutions and convictions. Up to 137 people were imprisoned and some of the cases included incitement to violence such as the case of Lucy Connolly who was imprisoned up to 31 months for encouraging people to burn down hotels housing asylum seekers.
On the other hand, there have also been many cases of arrests related to offensive speech that did not involve any threats of violence such as the case of the parents were arrested for criticising the administration of their daughter’s school in a private WhatsApp group.
Concerns about the deterioration of free speech in the UK are growing prompting a lot of criticism from various political quarters and organisations.
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