Protest is not Terrorism

Independent MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, and MEPs Rima Hassan and Marc Botenga have been joined by the Green Party’s Mothin Ali and dozens of Independent and Green candidates and councillors in an appeal to the judge to grant bail to Amu Gib ahead of a hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday 1 May. The former hunger striker, who has been detained on remand since July 2025 in relation to alleged involvement in the protest action at RAF Brize Norton which triggered the controversial ban on Palestine Action, is running for a seat on Islington Council. [1] 

In a letter to be published on the Protest is not Terrorism website [2] which has also been backed by authors Sally Rooney and Andrew Feinstein, journalist Matt Kennard, and activist Greta Thunberg, over 250 signatories say:

“Amu’s continued detention is not only illogical and unjust, it is obstructing their ability to exercise their democratic rights. They should be on the streets of Finsbury Park, talking to voters and spreading the word about their campaign pledges to fight for welfare not warfare, homes with dignity and empowerment for young people.”

Green and Islington Community Independent candidates who are standing against each other in the closely-watched elections have united behind the call for Amu to be granted bail. 

Benali Hamdache, Leader of the Opposition on Islington Council and Green Councillor for Highbury Ward said:

“Amu has faced detention for far longer than is expected. Imprisonment without trial is unjust and unfair. Allowing Amu to participate in the democratic process and to take their case to the electorate would be some remedy. It is time for bail to be granted.”

Ilkay Cinko-Oner, Leader of Islington Community Independents and Independent Councillor for Laycock Ward said:

“Islington Community Independents are proud that Amu Gib is running as one of our candidates. Amu will be a great councillor. I know this because they will bring the same courage it took to stand up to the government to fighting for the residents of Finsbury Park. They need to be on the doorstep campaigning for welfare not warfare; no more evictions, rent controls and more funding for education along with the rest of us, not detained without trial.”

The bail application comes days after campaigners sounded the alarm over the restrictions faced by Amu and conditions for others detained in the same case. Amu’s post and books have been regularly withheld or delayed for months, according to friends and loved ones. [3] Umer Khalid, another of the Brize Norton Five, has recently been denied medical bail, and his family are campaigning for him to have access to a wheelchair in prison [4].

Amu’s bail application has garnered widespread support, with elected representatives and candidates from Hackney, Haringey, Ealing, Waltham Forest, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Croydon as well as Belfast, Brighton, Norwich, Preston among the signatories.

Gerry Carroll, MLA for West Belfast said: 

“Amu Gib endured a 49-day hunger strike, helped force the cancellation of a £2 billion Elbit Systems contract and is currently being held on remand under anti-terror laws that the High Court has already ruled unlawful. That is exactly the kind of fighter communities need on Islington Council. The British state has done everything in its power to silence Amu, including imprisonment beyond the normal legal limits, but none of it has worked. A vote for Amu is proof that solidarity cannot be caged. I’m proud to back their campaign and urge every voter in Finsbury Park to do the same.”

[1] For details on Amu Gib’s election campaign, please see their election website https://twobrickscommunity.wordpress.com/ and instagram account https://www.instagram.com/amugib4liberation/; email electamugib@proton.me

[2] The Protest is not Terrorism website was set up in July 2025 to host the open letter on the proscription of Palestine Action signed by over 1700 people: https://protestisnotterrorism.uk/

[3] Action alert for Amu https://www.instagram.com/freebrizenorton5/; Letter writing campaign for Amu https://actionnetwork.org/letters/email-bronzefield-amu 

[4] Statement from Free Umer Khalid https://www.instagram.com/freeumerkhalid/p/DXaA_zRDkMc/

Open Letter: Set Amu free to join their election campaign

Add your name here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/open-letter-set-amu-free-to-join-their-election-campaign

For nearly ten months Amu Gib has been imprisoned on remand while waiting for trial on charges of alleged involvement in an action at Brize Norton airbase in 2025. Prosecutors have justified their detention far beyond the normal legal limit of six months for pre-trial custody by claiming links to “terrorism” as a result of the proscription of Palestine Action in July 2025. Along with other members of the Brize Norton 5 (Umer, Jon, Daniel, and Lewie) Amu has been charged under the National Security Act.

The government’s unprecedented ban on Palestine Action has been widely condemned by human rights and civil liberties organisations, opposed by the trade union movement and challenged by thousands of peaceful protesters. In February 2026, the High Court ruled that proscription was unlawful.

Amu is now standing for election to Islington Council in Finsbury Park ward, where they grew up. Amu’s continued detention is not only illogical and unjust, it is obstructing their ability to exercise their democratic rights. They should be on the streets of Finsbury Park, talking to voters and spreading the word about their campaign pledges to fight for welfare not warfare, homes with dignity and empowerment for young people.

The brutal bombardment of Iran and Lebanon, coupled with genocidal threats and actions by Trump and Netanyahu demonstrates why Amu’s call to action for a world without war and racism deserves to be heard now.

We call for Amu’s immediate release on bail.

Selected launch signatures (28 April 2026)

National and regional elected representatives

• Jeremy Corbyn, MP Islington North
• Zarah Sultana, MP Coventry South
• Rima Hassan, MEP
• Marc Botenga, MEP
• Mothin Ali, Deputy Leader, Green Party             
• Gerry Carroll, MLA for West Belfast, People Before Profit                                 
• Caroline Russell, Member London Assembly, Green Party             

 Local elected representatives and candidates   

• Ash Ahmed, candidate, Seven Sisters, Green Party            
• Elmedina Baptista-Mendes, candidate, Tollington, Islington, Green Party             
• Amelia Bottomley, candidate, Barnsbury, Islington, Green Party             
• Patrick Brighty, candidate, Arsenal ward, Islington, Green Party             
• Paul Burnham, candidate, Bruce Grove, Haringey Socialist Alliance             
• Sarah Byrne, candidate, London Fields, Hackney Independent Socialist Collective             
• Mads Churchhouse, candidate, Bow East, Green Party  
• Ilkay Cinko-Oner, Leader, Islington Community Independents; Candidate, Laycock Ward, Islington, Islington Community Independents             
• Michael Collins, Councillor, Belfast City Council, People Before Profit             
• Amelie Cooper, candidate, Bruce Castle, Haringey Socialist Alliance             
• Alison Davy, candidate, Northumberland Park, Haringey Socialist Alliance             
• Felicity De Motta, candidate, Haringey, Green Party             
• Jo Dowbor, candidate, Arsenal ward, Islington, Green Party             
• Mica  Evans, candidate, South Acton, Ealing Community Independents             
• Alex Forbes, candidate, Colliers Wood ward, Independent             
• Amanda Fox, Councillor, Mancroft, Norwich, Green Party             
• Jay Ginn, candidate, Coulsdon Town, Green Party             
• Philip Graham, Councillor, Islington, Bunhill ward, Independent             
• Anne M Gray, candidate, Haringey, Green Party             
• Benali Hamdache, Councillor, Highbury; Leader of the opposition, Islington Council, Green Party 
• Faaiz Hasan, candidate, Harrow Road ward, Westminster, Green Party             
• Alana Heaney, candidate, Homerton, Hackney Independent Socialist Collective             
• Mark Hollinrake, candidate, Kingsway, Rochdale , Green Party             
• Daniel Johnson, candidate, Bruce Castle, Green Party             
• Nathaniel Jones, candidate, Holloway ward, Islington Community Independents             
• Sheridan Kates, candidate, Tufnell Park, Islington, Green Party             
• Tehseen Khan, candidate, Tottenham Hale, Haringey Socialist Alliance             
• Jorge Latter, candidate, Canonbury ward, Green Party             
• Michael Lavalette, Councillor Lancashire County, Preston Central East, TUSC             
• Sharon Matthew, candidate, Islington, Independent        
• Liam McQuade, candidate, Tower Hamlets, Green Party             
• Gary McFarlane, candidate, Northumberland Park, Haringey Socialist Alliance             
• Tina Moonen, candidate, Pitshanger, Ealing Community Independents             
• Mel Mullings, candidate, Thornton Heath, RMT/ BLM Croydon             
• Ruth O’Dowd, candidate, Junction ward, Islington Community Independents             
• Faith Obiaka-Hayward, candidate, Junction ward, Islington Community Independents             
• Nick Parker, candidate, Carholme ward, Lincoln, TUSC            
• Mohammed Iqbal Pathan, candidate, Plaistow, Newham Independents             
• Laura Pearce, candidate, Walthamstow Forest, Hoe Street, Green Party             
• Kerry Pickett, Councillor Brighton & Hove City Council, Green Party             
• Pat Prendergast, candidate, Junction ward, Islington Community Independents             
• Chris Radway, candidate, Canonbury, Islington, Green Party             
• Jahangir Raina, candidate, Norwood Green , Green Party             
• Carl Russell, candidate, Walpole, Ealing Community Independents             
• Ceren Sagir, candidate, Cazenove, Hackney, Independent             
• Deb Scott, candidate, West Ham, Green Party             
• John Sinha, candidate, West Green, Haringey Socialist Alliance  
• Mackenzie Smallman, Member of UK Youth Parliament for Wythenshawe, Manchester, MYP           
• Huw Thomas, Councillor Torridge District Council, Green Party             
• Helen Tucker, Councillor, Cockermouth North, Green Party             
• Meryem Ulger, candidate, West Green, Haringey Socialist Alliance             
• Callum Waterhouse, candidate, Hillrise , Islington Community Independents             
• Sue Wheat, candidate, Chapel End, Waltham Forest, Green Party             
• Anahita Zardoshti, candidate, Holloway ward, Islington Community Independents  

Other signatories

• Andrew Feinstein, Activist            
• Matt Kennard, Journalist            
• Sally Rooney, Author            
• Greta Thunberg, Activist

What you can do:

• Add your name here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/open-letter-set-amu-free-to-join-their-election-campaign
• Signatures will be updated over the coming days.