UN Advisor 'Distressed' by UK Crackdown on Environmental Protesters

JAN 23 2024·Updated FEB 6 2024

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The Facts

Michel Forst, the UN's special rapporteur on environmental defenders, released a two-page statement Tuesday claiming that UK politicians are unfairly cracking down on environmental protesters, putting them at risk of "threats, abuse, and even physical attacks."
Politico
Forst visited the UK from Jan. 10-2 to meet with government officials and environmental activists — including nongovernmental organizations, climate protesters, and lawyers. He said he received "extremely worrying information" about "severe crackdowns on environmental defenders" in the UK that infringed on their right to peacefully protest.
UNECE
He added that politicians have been using the new Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Act 2022 to prosecute protesters for "public nuisance" — a criminal offense carrying up to 10 years imprisonment. He also said that the Public Order Act 2023 is being used to stymie protest.
UNECE
Last month, authorities used the Public Order Act 2023 to sentence a protester from the Just Stop Oil activist group to a six-month prison term for his role in a protest that blocked a public road. Groups such as Just Stop Oil have engaged in several disruptive demonstrations at high-profile events such as major sporting events and musical performances.
CNN
Forst added that some protesters have been forced to wear electronic ankle tags while others have been subject to a 10 p.m.-7 a.m. curfew and geolocation tracking. Currently, defendants charged with a crime may be on bail for up to two years after their arrest and before their criminal trial.
guardian
The UN rapporteur went on to condemn politicians for their alleged “toxic discourse” that has a “chilling effect” on the “exercise of fundamental freedoms.”
guardian

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The Spin

Left narrative

The UK's conservative government has been infringing on the basic right to peaceful protest, and thankfully, the UN is calling out this undemocratic behavior. Using government force and passing laws to criminalize protests is always wrong, but particularly in this case because it stops activists from speaking about the climate crisis. Climate defenders are heroes fighting on behalf of everyone, and they should be protected instead of being prosecuted.

Independent

Right narrative

Unhinged protests from groups such as Just Stop Oil have erupted throughout the UK, and hard-working Brits have had enough. While left-wing elites may try to paint these radical and polarizing demonstrations as "peaceful," they're anything but. These protesters instigate clashes with ordinary citizens and police, and do all they can to ruin public events. The UK allows and promotes peaceful protests, but these climate extremists are beginning to infringe upon the population's basic right to live undisrupted.

GB News