Pro-Palestine organisers stand trial in landmark UK protest case
Ben Jamal (L) and Chris Nineham whose trial at Westminster Magistrates Court for a public order offence started on 26 February 2026
Anam Alam reports in The New Arab on 27 February 2026:
The trial of two prominent pro-Palestine figures in the UK began on Thursday [26 February] following more than a year of delays and a further adjournment earlier this week, in a landmark case for the country on the right to protest.
Ben Jamal, director of the UK’s largest pro-Palestine organisation, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), and Chris Nineham, founding member of the Stop the War Coalition (SWC), are standing trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court over a pro-Palestine march held on 18 January last year in London.
Nineham faces one charge of allegedly failing to comply with public assembly conditions, while Jamal faces the same charge and a second allegation of inciting others to breach those conditions. Jamal has previously said he was informed of the charges hours after attending a voluntary police interview the following day.
Both were charged under the Public Order Act 2023 shortly after the demonstration, an offence that carries penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment. Both defendants pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution opened proceedings by outlining the context leading up to the march, with barrister Kevin Dent telling the court there was “strong evidence” that both men were aware of the conditions imposed by the Metropolitan Police and deliberately breached them.
The 18 January demonstration had initially been planned to gather near the BBC’s headquarters in protest the broadcaster’s coverage of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. However, police imposed conditions restricting the protest to Whitehall and barring any march towards Broadcasting House.
The court heard that the restrictions were introduced over concerns that a march close to London’s Central Synagogue on Shabbat could disrupt Sabbath services