We are proud to fund and provide legal representation for Mark Birbeck’s claim against the Metropolitan Police, issued today in the High Court in London.
Campaign Against Antisemitism is providing litigation funding to enable Mr Birbeck, the founder of Our Fight UK, to challenge the lawfulness of his arrest five days after the Heaton Park synagogue terror attack.
Mr Birbeck was arrested on suspicion of committing a Terrorism Act offence, a public order offence, and a breach of the peace.
Extensive footage shows Mr Birbeck calmly debating with pro-Palestine supporters while holding a sign that read “We stand with Britain’s Jews” immediately before his arrest.
We fully support this action and Mr Birbeck’s determination to secure an acknowledgment from the police that their conduct was unlawful.
For years, Campaign Against Antisemitism has provided free legal representation and litigation funding to people affected by antisemitism or victimised for standing with British Jews. Our litigation funding provides access to specialist lawyers and indemnifies claimants against adverse costs.
Mr Birbeck said: “I wanted to publicly display a simple message of solidarity with British Jews just a week after two of their community were killed outside a Manchester synagogue. I was arrested, and the charges brought against me that day are outrageous and baseless. I am grateful to Campaign Against Antisemitism for taking on my case, and ensuring that the police are held accountable. Nobody should be left with a terror arrest on their record for taking such a stand”.
Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Director of Investigations and Enforcement, Stephen Silverman, said: “Mr Birbeck’s case is yet another galling example of two-tier policing in Britain. While Palestine activists repeatedly break our laws with impunity, a member of the public is seemingly unable to peacefully express support for British Jews without being arrested on suspicion of terrorism – a serious offence. This is a sobering reflection of the state of our justice system, and that is why Campaign Against Antisemitism has intervened to see that the police answer for their conduct in court”.
