In the latest Amnesty Urgent Action case, the Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union has written three separate letters to the Directors of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland, England and Wales, and to the Lord Advocate for Scotland. These letters urge authorities to immediately end the prosecutions of people who took part in peaceful protests organized by “Palestine Action” and to release those currently in custody.
“People across the United Kingdom who are prosecuted will get a permanent criminal record for doing nothing,” said Keegan Buckley-Boyer, Accessibility Representative. “This is a clear attempt to silence people for standing up against injustice.”
On August 9, 2025, more than 500 people were prosecuted after taking part in peaceful demonstrations across the UK. These protests were part of a campaign to call attention to the UK’s role in supplying weapons that are used in human rights abuses abroad. Amnesty International had already reminded police to respect the rights of protesters to free expression and peaceful assembly, yet instead of protecting those rights, authorities responded with mass arrests and prosecutions. If these charges are not dropped, hundreds of people risk carrying permanent criminal records simply for exercising their right to protest.
This case reflects a troubling wider pattern: governments increasingly using criminal law to suppress dissent and intimidate activists. Peaceful protest is protected under international human rights law, and targeting protesters with criminal charges undermines democracy itself. Across the globe, young people, students, and activists have been met with crackdowns when they speak out against state actions or corporate complicity in abuses. The UK, a country that has long presented itself as a defender of rights, is now threatening its own citizens for engaging in the very freedoms it claims to uphold.
“We hope that by raising our voices in solidarity, we can help stop these prosecutions before hundreds of lives are permanently impacted,” said Buckley-Boyer. “No one should have their future jeopardized for simply demanding justice and accountability.”
TRUSU calls on prosecutors in Northern Ireland, England and Wales, and Scotland to uphold the UK’s human rights obligations and drop these cases without delay. We hope that these authorities take this step to protect freedom of expression, end the criminalization of peaceful dissent, and respect the rights of their citizens.
We await a response from the authorities on this urgent matter.
For More Information
The Amnesty Urgent Action Program allows the Union to take action regarding international human rights injustices that matter to students. Click this link to see injustices we have addressed previously, and for further information about this issue or to see a copy of the letter, contact the Equity Coordinator below.