THREE youths were immediately freed yesterday after the Court of Appeal shortened two prison sentences and overturned one conviction.
Four others had their sentences reduced, while three had their appeals dismissed. Ten youths appealed.
The ten had been arrested and jailed after participating in demonstrations outside the Israeli Embassy during Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009.
While the case was heard, supporters demonstrated outside the High Court.
Joanna Gilmore, a lecturer at Manchester University, told News Line: ‘There were initially 79 people charged and today’s appeals relate to ten of the over 30 people who have been sent to prison.
‘They have been imprisoned for offences that wouldn’t normally result in imprisonment and they were imprisoned against the advice of the probation service, which recommended they be given a non-custodial sentence. They’re basically political prisoners.
‘A lot of people were put under a lot of pressure at the beginning to plead guilty, because they were led to believe that they would avoid prison if they entered a guilty plea.
‘But those who held out and insisted on their innocence have had their cases thrown out of court because the police evidence was so spurious. The real criminals were the boys in blue, not the protesters.
‘It was on Channel 4 last night that the police have finally admitted that outside the Israeli Embassy on 3rd January 2009 they assaulted two twin brothers, who were were both hit on the head with truncheons. The police have been forced to issue an apology and pay £25,000 compensation.’
Assiya Yousef, from the British Arab Recourse Centre, told News Line: ‘It’s not fair and it’s not just. One of the volunteers who used to work in my office has been imprisoned for 18 months.
‘And the astonishing thing is that his previous solicitors, who were recommended to him by the police, advised him to admit that he was wrong and to plead guilty, even though he was not guilty, he was just protesting against an unjust war.
‘He was so scared, he didn’t tell his family. He’s just 18 years old and he’s been jailed for 18 months. He’s appealing today. We want his freedom.’
Rashida, a law student from east London, told News Line: ‘It’s ridiculous that these young boys are in prison just for protesting against what Israel was doing against the people of Gaza.
‘It’s a fundamental right to protest. It’s so upsetting, I have no words. I’m so upset, I woke up at 6am this morning to come here today.’
Farzani Haque, from north west London, told News Line: ‘I decided to come here today because I feel very strongly about injustice.
‘I’ve suffered in the British courts myself with two employment race cases and I’ve been deprived of justice for over ten years.
‘Today I’m here for justice for these young people who have been imprisoned just for protesting, which is a basic right.’
The Stop the War Coalition said yesterday: ‘All these jailed youth must be freed at once.
‘They committed no crime and had every right to demonstrate.’
