The appeal for the release of two pro-Palestine activists who were jailed for disrupting a weapons manufacturer in Glasgow has been denied by a Scottish court.
Stuart Bretherton and Calum Lacy, members of Palestine Action, were sentenced to a year in prison for breach of the peace at Thales’s Govan weapons factory in June 2022. The two activists, along with three others known as the Thales 5, targeted the factory due to its connections with Israel’s largest arms firm, Elbit Systems, and its direct supplies to the Israeli military.
The factory produces components for drones used by the Israel Defence Forces, including the Watchkeeper drone based on Elbit’s Hermes 450, which has been deployed in Gaza. The activists’ actions were aimed at disrupting the operations of the arms manufacturer and raising awareness about the impact of these weapons on the people of Palestine.
Despite efforts to appeal their sentences, the activists were unsuccessful in their bid for immediate release. The court reduced their jail terms from 12 months to 10, but they remain behind bars at HMP Barlinnie.
The imprisonment of these activists has sparked controversy, with many questioning the severity of the sentences in relation to the nonviolent nature of their actions. Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman criticized the decision, stating that the sentences were disproportionate and inconsistent with guidelines on appropriate sanctions for young individuals.
Annie Lane, the partner of one of the activists, shared her struggles of going through pregnancy without her partner by her side. She expressed admiration for the activists’ courage and commitment to standing up against injustice, despite the personal sacrifices they have had to endure.
The case of these pro-Palestine activists highlights the ongoing challenges faced by individuals who speak out against human rights violations and the arms trade. It also raises important questions about the use of punitive measures to deter activism and the need for greater awareness of the impact of weapons manufacturing on conflict zones around the world.
