Free the Filton 24– I Attended the First Day of This Show Trial at Woolwich Crown Court and this is what I saw

 6 Prisoners are on Hunger Strike Because of Systematic Abuse” by Prison Warders on Instructions from the Police and Government Prosecutors

Demonstration in support of the Filton 24 17 November 2025

Last Monday 17 November I attended a demonstration outside the first day of a show trial at Woolwich Crown Court. I was totally surprised. Instead of a normal court where you go in, have your bag searched and then sit down in a public gallery, with  maybe a coffee in a canteen, I couldn’t go anywhere near the court. Massive steel railings, locked gates and a heavy police presence kept us well away.

One of the most famous legal dictums in British jurisprudence is that “Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done”. This dictum was laid down by the Lord Chief Justice Lord Hewart, in the case of Rex v. Sussex Justices, [1924] 1 KB 256. Justice is neither being done or being seen to be done at what is an extension of the Belmarsh prison complex. This is a prison court.

Woolwich Crown Court, which during Julian Assange’s appearances doubled as Westminster magistrates court, was off limits to the public. This is not accidental. It is designed to impress upon members of the jury that these precautions need to be taken because they are trying dangerous prisoners.

Resistance is justified when genocide is about

None of the Filton 24, of whom 6 are appearing in the first trial, is even charged with a terrorist offence. The first case focuses on the six defendants who were caught on the premises of Elbit Systems on August 6, 2024. They are: Zoe Rogers, Fatema Zainab Rajwani, Jordan Devlin, Samuel Corner, Charlotte “Lottie” Head and “Ellie”.

They are charged with criminal damage to the Filton Elbit factory in Bristol. Their crime? Allegedly destroying the quadcopters that have been used to target the survivors of missile attacks by Israel. In other words the ‘crime’ of the defendants is to oppose Israel’s genocide which is deemed in the interests of the British state.

Starmer on genocide in Croatia and Bosnia - was there ever such a lying hypocrite?

The defendants have been held on remand for over a year despite the fact that no prisoner is supposed to spend more than 6 months on remand. This outrage is a consequence of having Starmer and his police state buddies in government and their continuation of the previous government’s attack on the right to protest and its support for Israel’s genocide.

This is what democracy has come to in Britain in the 21^st century. If there was any justice in the court system then it would be Starmer himself, Lammy, Lisa Nandy and all the other genocidaires in this ‘Labour’ government who were on trial.

Every single human rights group in the world – Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and even Israel’s B’tselem have condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. On 31 August 2025, the Association of Genocide Scholars, who know a thing or two about genocide, passed a Resolution on the Situation in Gaza describing it as genocide by 86%. The UN’s own Commission of Inquiry has termed Israel’s actions genocide as has UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.

But Starmer, who called the killing of 1,200 people in Vukovar in Croatia and the 8,000 Muslims who were massacred by Serb forces in Srebenica, refuses to call the murder of at least 100,000 and possibly far more in Gaza genocide.

Instead the people who campaign against genocide and who have taken action to prevent genocide are the criminals. This is the ’justice’ of British courts. As an article Palestine solidarity Behind Bars says that:

The Filton 24 prosecution has been marked by political interference, the aggressive use of counter-terror powers and repeated breaches of basic rights. It is the first time the British state has attempted to treat allegations of property damage as ‘terrorism’, setting a precedent later used to justify the proscription of Palestine Action. The investigation involved armed dawn raids, the damage to family homes, children handcuffed in their underwear in freezing conditions, and properties stripped of all electronic devices.

Since their arrest, the defendants have been held under unusually harsh conditions. All 24 were labelled ‘high-risk’ on arrival at HMP Bronzefield and HMP Peterborough, placed under surveillance regimes normally reserved for violent offenders, and denied bail at every stage — despite the non-violent nature of the allegations. Many have now spent more than a year on remand, far exceeding typical pre-trial detention periods.

The case raises profound questions about the criminalisation of protest, the expansion of national-security powers and the use of counter-terror frameworks against political dissent — particularly movements organising in solidarity with Palestine. Herbich is due to stand trial in June 2026.

MI5 Asset Paul Mason denies anyone is being held without trial

What happened in Filton?

On August 6, 2024, Palestine Action’s members broke into the premises of Elbit Systems in Filton, Bristol and allegedly destroyed the quadcopter drones used by the IDF to target Palestinians.

The action was estimated to have caused more than £1m in damage. Six activists were arrested at the scene all of whom are now on trial.

Four others were arrested in connection with the Filton action in nationwide raids days after. Then, in November 2024, more raids saw the number of those arrested and held climb to 18. Later, in June 2025, a final raid led to six more people being arrested. Nearly all the activists have been denied bail despite several applications. Our judges always tremble at the knees and abandon their thinking parts whenever the words ‘terrorism’ or ‘security’ is mentioned.

Hunger Strike

Six members began a hunger strike this month in protest against “systematic abuse” in the prisons, including wardens referring to them as “terrorists”, confiscating their clothing – including their Palestinian kefiyehs – and restricting their visits and letters. They include Amu Gib, Heba Muraisi, Jon Cink, Kamran Ahmed, Teuta “T” Hoxha and Qesser Zurah.

The group has vowed to refuse food until Elbit is shut down and prison authorities stop the alleged abuse.

This is the second hunger strike Hoxha has observed within the last three months.

In August, she refused food for three weeks over worsening treatment by prison staff in the aftermath of the government's move to ban the group under terrorism legislation in July.

The campaign group Prisoners for Palestine (PFP) announced the launch of the rolling hunger strike after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood failed to respond to a letter outlining their demands, including immediate bail and an end to prison interference with their personal communications, as well as the de-proscription of Palestine Action.

More are expected to participate in the coming weeks.

'I will persevere'

The prisoners have received widespread support from pro-Palestine activists.

Former Lebanese political prisoner Georges Abdallah - freed in July after 41 years in a French jail - sent a message to the hunger strikers, expressing his ‘full solidarity with the Comrades of ‘Prisoners for Palestine’ in the face of “repression”.

From house arrest, US activist Jakhi McCray, who is accused of torching police vehicles, said he will also begin a hunger strike in solidarity and to draw attention to their case.

In his letter, McCray wrote:

These comrades have been physically isolated even within their prisons, banned from communicating with family and friends, assaulted, denied a fair trial, and harassed over their religion.

Zurah, Gibb and Muraisi reported that they have been repeatedly denied medical attention and refused requests for electrolytes. One of the prisoners has now gone a week without food.

PFP said the government has still not issued a response to their letter nor commented on the strikers.

"I am astounded by T's resilience in joining her comrades in this hunger strike, having just completed one two months ago,"

PFP's Audrey Corno said.

"In our last visit, she told me: 'Don't worry about me. I've read about Guantanamo, and I am embarrassed - I will do this hunger strike in comparative comfort. Whatever happens to me cannot compare to the scenes in Palestine. Therefore I will persevere.'"

"This is the strength the British state is up against," Corno added.

Palestine Solidarity Behind Bars

Aleksandra Herbich is one of twenty-four defendants in the Filton 24 case — a group of activists, most linked to Palestine Action, arrested after a direct-action protest at the Elbit Systems weapons factory in Filton, near Bristol, in August 2024. Here is her letter to her parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

What a year it has been.

One year of trauma at the hands of the state. One year of imprisonment without trial, with no hope of bail. One year of being classified as the highest security threat by HMPPS; punished, isolated and surveilled without cause.

One year of seeing the suffering of women and trans men in broken prisons up close. One year of hearing their stories: criminalised for being poor, mentally unwell, or both.

One year of experiencing an impenetrable web of bureaucracy used as a weapon against the voiceless. One year of abuse of state power backed by judicial tyranny, funded by a seemingly endless stream of taxpayer money.

One year of watching the government’s unrighteous smear campaign on TV in my cell, in order to justify classifying protest as terrorism. One year of the continuing destruction of civil liberties in the name of the military-industrial complex.

One year without freedom or dignity. But never without hope — because it’s also been one more year of all races, genders, ages, religions, and classes unified towards a free Palestine.

One more year of the people continuing to stand up and say ‘No! Not in our name!’

One more year of civil disobedience on a scale never seen before around the world in defence of freedom for all.

One more year of government hypocrisy exposed for all to see. One more year of struggle against the oppression of the masses in the service of the one percent. One more year of ‘There’s no justice — there’s just us!’

One more year of friends, family and the people reminding me I’m not alone and how lucky I am to be in their presence. One more year of community building and solidarity in the face of the destructive forces of individualism. One more year of having faith that things get worse just before they get infinitely better with a little perseverance.

So here’s one gone, and seven months to come, with nothing to do except prepare for my trial. And to that I say: bring it on!

Love,

your daughter, Aleks

Aleks Herbich is a musician who has been in custody since 19 November 2024, when she was arrested by police using ‘anti-terrorism’ laws, becoming one of the Filton 18 (now 24).

Exclusive: Absconded activist refuses to be “prisoner of war”

Palestine Action trial begins in London – what we know

Webinar - Fighting Back Against Starmer’s Police State

We live in a Dystopia where Opposing Genocide & Attacking Arms Factories is a Crime Whereas Profiting from the Death of Children is Lawful

Stop Starmer's Police State Webinar 30 August 2025

Last Saturday over 200 people attended our Webinar ‘Stopping Starmer’s Police State – Defending the Right to Protest’ to listen to six different speakers, three of whom have been arrested under the Terrorism Acts, one of whom is the mother of a daughter, Fatimah, who is in custody, Huda Ammori the co-founder of Palestine Action and Franck Magennis, a barrister at Garden Court Chambers who is presently one of the lawyers involved in seeking the deproscription of Hamas.

It says something about the nature of the Tory Party and its far-right leader, Kemi Bad Enoch (presumably her mother had forewarning of how she would turn out when she was named!) that its Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, someone who is more comfortable in the company of neo-Nazis and asylum protesters, has branded as ‘sickening’ the bid to deproscribe Hamas.

Natalie Strecker’s pre-recorded speech

Unfortunately Natalie Strecker, who has been charged with a terrorist offence in Jersey, under laws similar but not identical to our own, did not feel able to attend and speak in person. She did however kindly agree to send us a video with her message and it is shown above

Filton 24 supporters stage demo outside prison holding activistsc / London

The first speaker was Sukaina Rajwani, whose daughter Fatema Zainab is one of the Filton 24, who have been incarcerated for a year now and can expect to stay in prison for another year before even facing a trial. This is completely outrageous. They are charged with non-terrorist offences yet they are being kept in appalling conditions in prison as if they were terrorists.

Teuta Hoxha has been held in prison without trial for the last nine months, and has been on hunger strike since 11 August as a protest against the denial of her basic rights. She says that she and her Palestine Action co-defendants are being monitored by the Counter Extremism Unit. See Filton 24 hunger striker tells the Canary government is monitoring her under counter extremism

It is a sad, sick comment on Starmer and Cooper’s Britain that young women and men who are trying to stop a genocide are treated like the worst criminals whilst arms manufacturers, who profit from the bodies of babies torn to shredd are feted, wined and dined.

One person who should be in gaol is Lord Dannat, a former head of the British army and a member of the House of Lords. He urged ministers to crack down on Palestine Action at the request of the US defence company Teledyne that employs him as an adviser.

Despite his claims of non-interference, police transcripts in a trial disclosed internal objections to his involvement, although a judge ultimately ruled that he had not interfered in the active investigation.

The revelation arrives amid existing scandals: Dannatt was already under two separate investigations. One from the House of Lords watchdog concerning a covert video of him offering access to ministers for commercial clients, and another into lobbying on behalf of CF Industries to save a fertilizer plant – where he received honoraria and leveraged his peerage for legitimacy. See Lord Dannatt urged ministers to crack down on Palestine Action at request of US firm and Scandal-hit Lord Dannatt now caught lobbying for arms industry against Palestine Action

Next up to speak was Mick Napier, Chair of Scottish PSC who has spent most of his active life being arrested. It is ironic that despite Scotland being ruled for most of that time by the Scottish National Party, the SNP has given next to no support to the Palestinians who are also fighting for their freedom from an alien occupation. Indeed the record of the Scottish Police is as bad as those in England. See SACC Statement on the Arrest of Mick Napier.

The next speaker was Richard Medhurst, a journalist who was arrested by the counter-terror police at Heathrow Airport and accused of ‘expressing an opinion or belief that is supportive of a terrorist organisation’. He was detained for 24 hours, his electronic devices seized and he has been waiting for over a year to see if he is going to be charged. See his account here.

Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action was the next to speak and as always she gave a barnstorming speech outlining the growth of the campaign against Palestine Action’s proscription.

Next up was Franck Magennis, a prominent Irish and socialist barrister from Garden Court Chambers. Franck is involved in the attempt to secure de-proscription of Hamas. He has been targeted by the Israeli government front group the so-called Campaign Against Antisemitism for having told the racist Chief Rabbi Mirvis to shut his racist, Zionist mouth!

The CAA have submitted not one but two complaints against Franck.  Presumably on the basis that if one doesn’t succeed the other might! Among the things they objected to was the statement that:

“Zionism is collapsing. Keep hammering anyone who still identifies as a Zionist. Their apartheid state is a pariah. It’s on its way out, just like South Africa, like Jim Crow, like the French in Algeria. Escalate!!”

Most people would agree that this is a good example of the exercise of free speech but given that the CAA is an Israeli front group it’s not surprising that they believe that British standards of free speech should mirror those of Israel – where pro-Palestine speech normally results in arrest and a beating.

I was the last speaker and I will leave you to watch to find out what I said! Apart from, that is, taking Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Ben Jamal to task for having done nothing to support the campaign to destroy the proscription of Palestine Action. PSC still labourd under the illusion that they can, by staging demonstrations in London that no one reports and writing protest letters to MPs that no one reads, win over the British Establishment to the Palestinian cause. Softly, softly and mainstreaming is what they call a strategy.

After all the speakers had spoken there was a Q&A session. The meeting was co-chaired by Esther Giles of the Socialist Labour Network and Haim Bresheeth of Jewish Network for Palestine.

The meeting itself was sponsored by the JNP, Jewish Voice for Labour, the SLN and Scottish PSC.

Tony Greenstein