Contempt prosecution of Rajiv Menon KC criticised as 'chilling' for lawyers
A barrister represents his clients in court. Clients who are political dissidents. He now faces criminal prosecution for doing so. Not Turkey. Not Egypt. Not Russia. England. Astonishing, deeply disturbing, and part of a long slide towards authoritarianism. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Grumpy Middle Aged White Guy39Though it’s actually looking like an increasingly short and fast slide into authoritarianism.
Robin36“[menon’s closing statements] were capable of creating the impression that the defendants had been treated unfairly and that Elbit Systems had been improperly protected in the proceedings” So they aim to dispel this idea by prosecuting the lawyer making the case for the defendants???
mark-a-e.bsky.social29Courtesy of council estate media
Andrew James14Add this to protest=terrorism, sentencing without a conviction & the attempt to limit trial by jury & all they’re missing is the secret police (à la ICE) and you can be certain that the next Tory/Reform govt will create that, if Labour don’t get there first
Cian Ginty13Not weird at all that both the German and UK Governments and justice systems are protecting a company linked to genocide* bsky.app/profile/cian... (*= according to this UN report: www.un.org/unispal/docu...)
Tony9Labour Friends Of Genocide - the absolute pits.
Legal C18To call this rather misleading post out. His client wasn’t a “political dissident”. They were charged with (and found guilty of) criminal damage. He does not face criminal prosecution for “representing his clients”. He faces prosecution for contempt. /1
Lynne Gray6I am deeply ashamed of our so-called #justicesystem. Judge #JeremyJohnson should be recused from ever acting in court again. His behaviour is an affront to all that they pledge an oath on. And #UKLabour is not the party of the working people, it is turning Britain into an #authoritarian state.
David Nice5And this is on Burnham's watch. I fear his words about Israel and Gaza - clearly 'genocide' will never fall from his lips - were tokenistic and he'll do nothing about the outrageous prosection of peaceful protesters etc.
Rachel A. Rosen 📚💙🪐4Fellas, is it normal to arrest lawyers for defending their clients?
Chris Gooch3This cannot be legal. Everybody needs representation in court
Dr Susan B.2What? This is enough to bring me out on the streets. For how must longer must we criminalise those who support Palestine? Boy, have we got this wrong.
Phil M 🦻🏼💚 🍉 🏳️⚧️ 🇵🇸2Authoritarianism doesn't knock on your front door, it sneaks in through the back when you're not looking.
Wokerati International Brigades #FreePalestine #Antifa4ever2When is Andy Burnham going to revoke the attacks on our democratic freedoms by the Starmer cabal and pay reparations to the victims?
Mr Garvie to you2that sums it up best . its a stich up against political protest . nothing screams corruption more
Witnesses of Ulm 5 trial in Germany speak out. Irish citizen Daniel Tatlow-Devally is subject to a show trial for taking action for Palestine. He is locked up 23 hours a day and only allowed to talk to family for an hour a month. Irish government must send observers.
Scruffarse Stinkfoot3Government is up to their eyes in it, they can barely put on a shrivelled and impotent show of an occupied territories bill whilst the place runs on Israeli tech, pharma and software. Government needs exposing for real. HSE is riddled. Businesses are riddled. Island is riddled and complicit.
jonathanmlewis.bsky.social1The Germans are backsliding into doing the dirtywork of fascists.
Palestine Action barrister’s prosecution criticised as ‘chilling’ On Wednesday, senior legal figures criticised the prosecution of Menon, believed to be the first barrister to be prosecuted over remarks made during a closing speech. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Viscount Pontypandy5The charge of “knowing that his conduct would create, or was capable of creating, a real risk of impeding the administration of justice’ should be brought against Johnson & Nicklin. Not telling telling jurors what they were actually finding defendant(s) guilty of is no justice at all!
rufflemyjimmies.bsky.social4Stuff like this is ensuring labour has no future. Anyone who agrees with this would vote on the right (cons, refs etc) and to anyone on the left or with any sense of law and objective morals this makes labour utterly unacceptable. Same as the issue with Palantir or digital ID etc.
seano32.bsky.social4His closing speech was incredible. Openly advised & informed the jury with regard to the (politically selected) judge's comments. Very compelling. BritGov are a disgrace to 'justice' and its clear to see why laws are introduced and their clear desire to leave the ECHR.
Pete Weatherby KC opens the event on "Descent Into Authoritarianism?: The Rajiv Menon KC Case". He describes the "wholly unprecedented" and "extraordinary" first-ever criminal trial against a barrister for his closing speech to a jury.
Clare M6Really chilling! Read an excellent 🧵 on this subject this morning: bsky.app/profile/shoa...
Clare M3Authoritarianism applied to Barristers who advocate for those advocating for Palestinians, with chilling effect. Doctors too. British-Palestinian Surgeon & Rector of Glasgow Uni, Dr Abu Sittah was cleared by MTPS twice after vexatious UKLFI complaint but GMC now taking him to High Court.
“It is starting to feel like it’s about the politics of the subject matter of the trial, rather than the core principles of how a barrister represents his client.” www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Lynne #TaxTheRich #WelfareNotWarfare #MakeLabourHistory6Oh, it’s definitely exactly that, and some very scary precedents are being set!
Simon3It seems every branch of the UK has been infected with Zionists.
Andrew James1Labour ultras on blue sky: explain again how Labour are not preparing the way for a truly authoritarian state! All they’re missing is the secret police (à la ICE) and you can be certain that the next Tory/Reform govt will create that.
