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United Nations human rights experts have asked the United Kingdom to stop bringing security and terrorism-related charges against peaceful protesters after 15 anti-deportation activists have been prosecuted for an offense punishable by death.
They described the use of the charge – which had to be approved by the Attorney General – as disproportionate for non-violent protesters. "It appears that such accusations were made to dissuade other people from taking similar and peaceful direct measures to defend human rights, especially to protect asylum seekers", they said.
The experts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNO) wrote to the government in early February to draw the attention of ministers to the importance of the right to demonstrate peacefully after the group. , known as Stansted 15, was continued. for endangering the security of an aerodrome after blocking the departure of an immigration elimination flight.
The rapporteurs' letter will remain confidential for 60 days to give the government the opportunity to respond, said a spokesman. However, the details of the letter were mentioned in a statement posted on the OHCHR website.
"We express our deep concern that the 15 protesters have been prosecuted and convicted under a law that primarily relates to the translation of the State's obligations with respect to international aviation security into national law – offenses also listed in the 2006 Terrorism Act, "according to UN experts. I said. The Crown Prosecution Service strongly denied that the protesters were charged with a terrorist offense.
"In addition, we believe that the prosecution of the 15 protesters under the Aviation Safety and Maritime Security Act, as well as their condemnation, do not sufficiently take into account the legal intent of the law, the misdemeanors it was intended to repair and the risk of abuse of these legal obligations. in the circumstances of the case, "added the experts.
After a prosecution described by Amnesty International as "a fatal blow to human rights in the UK", the 15 members of the group who staged the protest were spared from prison when they were sentenced Wednesday in Chelmsford Court Court , in Esbad County. They had been convicted by the jury in a 10-week lawsuit and a million pounds sterling, convinced that their actions had compromised the safety of Stansted Airport.
On the night of March 28, 2017, they crossed the perimeter fence of the international airport and surrendered in front of a Titan Boeing 767, chartered by the Home Office, which was waiting to send 60 people from the Kingdom. United Kingdom to Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra. Leone.
Four chained themselves around the front gear, while the others erected a tripod behind the left wing. One of them was perched on top, while others locked at the base to prevent it from being moved.
In defending themselves, they had sought to argue that they were acting in a manner to prevent human rights abuses both in the United Kingdom and in the countries of destination of the expellees. As a result of this action, 10 pbadengers of the flight remain in the country, including four who could or would have been victims of trafficking in human beings.
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