New York, October 29, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on British authorities to cease using counter-terrorism laws to intimidate the press after police raided the London home of journalist Asa Winstanley on October 17 on suspicion of “encouragement of terrorism.” According to Winstanley’s employer, Palestine-focused news site The Electronic Intifada, the raid was in connection with Winstanley’s social media posts.
“CPJ is deeply alarmed by the British counter-terrorism police raid on journalist Asa Winstanley’s home and the disturbing pattern of weaponizing counter-terrorism laws against reporters,” said Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative. “These actions have a chilling effect on journalism and public service reporting in the United Kingdom. Authorities must immediately end this practice and return all devices seized back to Winstanley. Instead of endangering the confidentiality of journalistic sources, authorities should implement safeguards to prevent the unlawful investigation of journalists and ensure they can do their work without interference.”
Officers with the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command arrived around 6 a.m. and served Winstanley, associate editor at The Electronic Intifada news site, with a warrant authorizing them to seize his electronic devices. The operation cited potential offenses under sections 1 (Encouragement of Terrorism) and 2 (Dissemination of Terrorist Publications) of the United Kingdom’s 2006 Terrorism Act, which carry a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
Earlier in August, police detained freelance journalist Richard Medhurst for 24 hours on similar offense, searching and questioning him at Heathrow Airport, and seizing his electronic devices. He told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency that he believes he was held due to his reporting on Palestinians.
CPJ emailed the Metropolitan Police Service’s press department requesting comment on the raid but did not receive a reply.
This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by CPJ Staff.
CPJ Staff | Radio Free (2024-10-29T15:43:23+00:00) British police seize electronic devices in raid on journalist Asa Winstanley’s home. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2024/10/29/british-police-seize-electronic-devices-in-raid-on-journalist-asa-winstanleys-home/
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