Former Scotland Leader Urges Exemption for Palestine Action Protesters

Former first minister and current justice secretary Humza Yousaf has urged Scotland's Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain not to prosecute peaceful supporters of the proscribed group Palestine Action, arguing such prosecutions are not in the public interest. Palestine Action was banned by the UK government as a terrorist organization in July 2025, making membership or support a criminal offense with severe penalties. Yousaf cited concerns from international bodies like the UN High Commissioner and Amnesty International, warning that prosecuting non-violent expression of support risks undermining human rights and freedom of speech. However, the Lord Advocate's office, through Solicitor General Ruth Charteris, rejected calls for a policy exempting peaceful supporters from prosecution, emphasizing the independent enforcement of criminal law. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) chief executive John Logue also criticized politicians, including Yousaf, for urging selective non-enforcement, stating it risks undermining the rule of law and creating perceptions of unequal law application. Amnesty International's Scotland director supported Yousaf's stance, highlighting that peaceful protestors voicing opposition to violence should not face prosecution under terrorism legislation.