By Midnight Adams
London, (The Muslim News): Families of four Palestine Action activists say they are “heartbroken” after a judge-imposed terrorism-linked sentences at Woolwich Crown Court Friday, despite the defendants not being convicted of terrorism offences. Campaigners and legal advocates have described the ruling as unprecedented, warning it could set a far-reaching precedent for how direct-action protesters are treated by the courts.
Judge Jeremy Johnson sentenced Charlotte Head and Leona Kamio to six years in prison, Fatema Zainab Rajwani to five years and eight months, and Samuel Corner to eight years and eight months. All four were also made subject to 15-year terrorist notification requirements.
The activists had spent up to 21 months in custody awaiting sentence. At the time of their arrest, Palestine Action was not a proscribed organisation.
All four face 15-year terrorist notification requirements.
Fatema Zainab’s mother, Sukaina Rajwani, 46, told The Muslim News that the judgement was “wholly unjust” and “disproportionate”. “British history has a long history of direct action which has never been equated with terrorism,” she added.
“We were prepared for the worst because of our experience over the past two years with the legal system. But expecting such an outcome does not justify it,” Rajwani continued.
The activists were supported by friends, family along with thousands of activists from protest groups, including Defend Our Juries and a significant Jewish bloc, as the sentence was delivered.
“The support has been massive,” said Rajwani. “It just keeps on going. That is one thing that keeps Fatema’s spirits high in prison. Groups like Defend Our Juries and other grassroots organisations, laymen, citizens, students, pensioners. Every single person feels the injustice of this decision. It is really heartwarming to have this love, support and solidarity during this difficult time.”
[Photo: Protesters gather outside Woolwich Crown Court to show support for the Palestine Action activists over a protest at an Israeli defense company’s facility in Bristol in 2024 in London, United Kingdom on June 12, 2026. Photojournalist: Aysu Biçer/AA]
72 protestors were arrested by police outside Woolwich Crown Court while demonstrating against the verdict. They were holding signs saying “Saving lives is not terrorism. I support Palestine Action.”
The controversy underpinning this case has come not from the arrests, but from the “terrorism connection.” This verdict is the first time in British legal history that direct action protestors have been sentenced with terrorism for the offense of criminal damage, under the Sentencing Act 2020, and it has received widespread condemnation by human rights groups, cultural figures, professors, leading lawyers, healthcare workers and campaigners.
Supporters of the activists have highlighted the disparity in the case, as they were not allowed to speak about their motivations whilst on trial, and the jury were not aware that the activists faced a potential terrorism sentence when they convicted the four of criminal damage.
The Filton 25 Defence Committee, a group run by family members of the activists, promptly issued this response to the verdict:
“The four protestors sentenced today, destroyed over 40 Israeli weapons, including killer drones, which are used in almost every massacre of Palestinians in Gaza. By taking direct action, they saved lives. That is not terrorism, it is a duty. Today’s ruling will be appealed to correct this serious miscarriage of justice.”
Anas Mustapha, Head of Public Advocacy at CAGE, also criticised the ruling, saying, “Today four people have been sentenced as terrorists for fulfilling the moral duty to prevent a genocide.”
Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, commented:
“The use of terrorism laws to suppress direct action protesters sets a dangerous precedent for our fundamental rights in this country and must come to an end.
“A terrorism sentence carries restrictions that stay with a person for the rest of their life. We should all be worried about what this means for other individuals taking direct action in protest at a genocide or any other issue.”
Mrs Rajwani echoed this, saying: “I would say every single person of conscience should be crying out and raising their voices at the injustice of this all and where it is leading Britain to. It will have a dangerous and chilling effect if not successfully challenged and overturned.”
The four members of the group were convicted in May 2026 of criminal damage during a 2024 raid on an Elbit Systems factory in Filton, near Bristol.
They entered the site in a repurposed prison van, and damaged roughly £1 million of drones, computers and other equipment, according to prosecutors.
Samuel Corner, 23, was also convicted of grievous bloody harm without intent after he struck Police Sergeant Kate Evans from behind with a sledgehammer, as she was arresting a fellow activist.
Corner admitted in court to striking her but defended himself by saying his vision had been impaired by pepper spray, and that he did not realise she was a police officer, arguing he “would never want to seriously hurt anyone.”
The blow fractured Sergeant Evans’ spine and left her with severe pain which, she told the court, continues to affect daily activities such as cooking and driving.
The action was part of a broader movement by the now proscribed group Palestine Action to target Elbit’s UK operations, who they argue is “profiting from and enabling” Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Backlash to this sentencing has been growing for weeks, with Artists for Palestine UK writing the activists face a “grave miscarriage of justice.” The open letter was signed by over 100 writers, actors, academics, politicians and musicians, all urging Judge Johnson to drop the trial.
“To bypass the jury and sentence a group of protesters as terrorists would constitute an extremely grave miscarriage of justice, with consequences far beyond this case alone,” the letter stated.
Author and signatory Sally Rooney also released this statement ahead of the sentencing:
“Protest that poses no threat to the public simply is not terrorism. These activists may have knowingly risked their freedom in taking action, but they now face the prospect of punishment for crimes they were never convicted of and did not commit. This is an obvious effort to undermine solidarity with Palestine, but what it really undermines is UK law.”
Protests against the sentencing were also spotted across London Underground, with signs stating:
“From now on, the government will decide if you are a terrorist, not a jury… The government will decide which crime you were charged with after your conviction.”
This is not the only ongoing case for Palestine Action activists. The group was proscribed back in July 2025, under the Terrorism Act 2000, making it a criminal offence to fundraise for or publicly support the group.
While this action was overturned in the courts in February of this year, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced an appeal to keep the proscription charges in place.
At the time of this ruling, over 2,000 people across the UK had been arrested for expressing support for the group.
Midnight Adams is an independent journalist
[Feature Photo: Fatema Zainab Rajwani (left) and her mother, Sukaina. Photo provided by Mrs Sukaina Rajwani]
