Images from Filton18 hearing are free to use, with the relevant credit

In a new open letter, more than 20 legal organisations from around the world have today called on the British authorities to “urgently cease the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation against the Filton 18” [1].

Rejecting the use of counter-terrorism legislation against political activists, the letter states that “The national and international legal and human rights community is alarmed by credible reports of serious violations of fair trial rights and other human rights of Palestine Action activists in the ongoing “Filton 18” case.“

After an August 2024 action at the Filton, Bristol premises of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons company, the eighteen activists are currently imprisoned, accused of “terrorism-connected” offences by the British state. They await trial, scheduled to take place in three separate cases, the first being heard in November 2025. Joining previous interventions by UN Experts [2] and Amnesty International [3], the international legal organisations today have warned that “The Filton 18 case is a litmus test for democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights in the United Kingdom.“

Specifically, they recall the UN Experts’ warning that the activists procedural rights are being denied, and that the activists may be deprived of a fair trial. After evidence was discovered which points to potential Israeli Embassy interference in the case [4], today’s open letter calls upon the authorities to provide concrete guarantees of the independence of the judiciary, and to disclose all evidence of attempted influence in the case by Israel.

Importantly, the signatories state that there is a “clear connection between misuse of anti-terrorism legislation and alleged Israeli interference in the Filton 18 case, and seemingly unlawful ties between the UK and Israel“. The UK’s complicity in Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza is the entire basis of the Filton 18’s action, with the Filton plant known to have been exporting arms to Israel as the action occured [5].

Ahead of the Filton 18’s next hearing at Kingston Crown Court on the 30th June and 1st July, today’s open letter has been signed by leading legal bodies representing lawyers across six continents, including the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights, and the National Lawyers Guild International (USA).

[1] https://eldh.eu/en/2025/06/united-kingdom-the-filton-18-case-is-a-warning-sign-of-democracy-and-rule-of-law-decline/
[2] https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=29507
[3] https://www.newarab.com/news/uk-counter-terrorism-police-arrest-10-palestine-action-activists
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/29/police-and-prosecutors-details-shared-with-israel-during-uk-protests-inquiry-papers-suggest
[5] https://www.declassifieduk.org/vindicated-how-palestine-action-hit-weapons-factories-exporting-to-israel/