Justice for Lottie, Ellie, Sam and Fatima Zainab
SPEAKERS
>Simon Natas, partner at ITN solicitors which represents the four Palestine Action prisoners
>Sukaina Rajwani, mother of imprisoned Fatema Zainab Rajwani
>Emma Kamio, mother of imprisoned Ellie Kamio
>Dr Shahd Hammouri, lecturer on international law at the University of Kent and international legal consultant
>Dr James Smith, emergency doctor who has worked in Gaza and lecturer on humanitarian policy
>Statements will be read out from Michael Mansfield KC and Lottie Head
PRESS RELEASE
Four Palestine Action activists are appealing their unprecedented sentences as terrorists by Justice Johnson. Their sentencing on 13th June 2026 was the first time in British legal history that criminal damage convictions were sentenced as terrorism. This decision set a “dangerous precedent” which has led to prosecutors and Judges seeking a ‘terrorist connection’ in other Palestine Action cases.
Seven people have recently been charged by Scottish prosecutors with malicious damage “having a terrorism connection”, after a Palestine Action protest at Donald Trump’s golf course in March 2025, over a year before the group was proscribed. A successful appeal could prevent terrorism sentences being applied to direct action cases involving property damage.
Johnson’s decision to sentence the four appellants as terrorists was based on the “serious property damage” clause of the Terrorism Act 2000. He claimed that damage to 40 Israeli weapons inside Elbit’s Israeli weapons facility, including quadcopter drones, was done to “influence the government” and “intimidate a section of the public [Elbit Systems]”.
Being sentenced as terrorists increased the length of the four appellants’ sentences; means that they would likely serve their whole sentence in prison, and would be subject to notification requirements for 15 years upon release. Such requirements include being obliged to notify police of any new device, bank account, address, holiday or relationship.
The appeal is based on the following grounds (quoted from the appeal submissions):
- “The Judge was wrong to admit the statement and report of Richard Kempster, a forensic consultant instructed by the insurers of Elbit Systems, as evidence of the extent of harm caused by the defendants”
- “The Judge was wrong in law to find that the offence of criminal damage in this case had a terrorist connection, within the meaning of s.69 Sentencing Act (SA) 2020”
- “The terrorist connection scheme in s.69 SA 2024 is incompatible with the requirements of legal certainty guaranteed by Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights. If the court were to accept that s.69 scheme is incompatible with Article 7, it is accepted on the behalf of the four that s.69(4)(b) SA 2020, which permits a terrorist connection to be considered in respect of any non-terrorist offence punishable on indictment with imprisonment for more than 2 years, cannot be read and given effect in a way which is compatible with Convention rights pursuant to s.3 Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998 and the Court should, therefore, make a declaration of incompatibility pursuant to s.4 HRA 1998.”
- “The procedure by which the Judge arrived at his finding that there was a terrorism connection was unfair and contrary to Article 6 ECHR and principles of natural justice”
- “The sentences were manifestly excessive”
- “The Judge should have recused himself from sentencing Charlotte Head given his hostility towards her leading counsel, Rajiv Menon KC, or, alternatively, given the appearance of hostility towards him”
“Ellie was 28 years old when she took action as a forest school nursery teacher where she was responsible for 3-5 year olds going home each night to watch children of a similar age being brutally murdered on social media.
It will be impossible to get a job with children ever again as an enhanced DBS check will flag a terrorist. Strange how trying to save children’s lives renders you never allowed to work with them again. Okay for the Epstein lot though!”
Emma Kamio, Ellie’s mum.
“When the government…protects Elbit system in the court and conspires with the Israeli embassy and Elbit systems to lock the actionists away as terrorists, it becomes crystal clear how corrupt and unjust the system is. You realise how drenched in innocent blood the government is.”
Sukaina Rajwani, Fatema Zainab’s mum
NOTES
*Whilst Samuel Corner was additionally sentenced for grievous bodily harm, without intent, of a police officer, a “terrorism connection” was only applied to the criminal damage convictions. Samuel Corner was sentenced to a combined eight years and eight months for both offences.
*Charlotte Head and Ellie Kamio were both sentenced to 5 years and 320 days. Fatema Zainab Rajwani was sentenced to 5 years and 200 days.
*Photos and videos for press coverage available for free here, without credit needed