John Booth

Journalist, questioner, cricketer, cyclist, photographer, musician and activist

[Jonathan Cook @Jonathan_K_Cook]

A popular backlash cornered the High Court into declaring the proscription of Palestine Action unlawful – a decision the government is appealing.

That has led to another unprecedented situation: police are still arresting people for holding placards in support of the group, despite the courts ruling that the basis for such arrests is unlawful.

The law has never looked more of an ass.

Which is why Starmer’s government is pinning its hopes on the judge in the so-called Filton trial riding to the rescue – making an example of four activists who targeted an Israeli factory in the UK making killer drones for use in Gaza.

This coming Friday, Judge Jeremy Johnson will pass sentence on the activists, who were convicted by a jury of the relatively minor offence of criminal damage in the second of two trials the judge so carefully rigged.

Judge Johnson has not been shy about showing where his loyalties lie. Not to the law, but to the British security state.

Which should hardly come as a surprise, given his background.

Judge Johnson made it to the bench after years serving as the most favoured barrister of the “secret state”, representing the intelligence services, the ministry of defence and the police. His working environment of choice as a lawyer was behind-closed-doors prosecutions held out of view of the public or proper legal scrutiny.

There were many extraordinary, anomalous moments in the two trials. But perhaps the most glaring was Judge Johnson’s efforts to get the main defence barrister in the first trial, Rajiv Menon KC, jailed for contempt of court simply for noting to the jury in his summing up speech that they had a hundreds-of-years-old right in law to acquit.

Judge Johnson’s behaviour was so unprecedented and certain to have a chilling effect on the ability of defence barristers to represent their clients – the Filton defendants dismissed their barristers from summing up in their second trial to avoid their lawyers facing prison for doing their job and defending them – that the Court of Appeal had no choice but to overrule Judge Johnson’s contempt proceedings against Menon.

Former British ambassador Craig Murray has rightly observed: “Many people will surely conclude, it is Judge Johnson who should be in jail."

But even with the convictions for criminal damage secured under these rigged conditions, Judge Johnson is still in a position to cause more harm to the rule of law in Friday’s sentencing hearing.

He has reserved to himself the right to sentence the four anti-genocide activists not just for the criminal damage charge they were convicted of after his rigged trial, but – once again in an unprecedented move – to treat those criminal convictions as if they were for terrorism offences.

That means he can impose a longer sentence, more draconian prison conditions and more onerous, life-long parole conditions after their release.

The jury knew none of this when they were considering whether to convict. Judge Johnson placed a gagging order on his decision during the trial which meant the information was withheld from the jury and could not be reported until after the verdict. The gag was broken only by foreign media and Zarah Sultana, who used her parliamentary privilege to reveal Judge Johnson’s government-friendly, anti-justice machinations.

In yet another unprecedented feature to the trial, this will be the first time in British history that someone accused of criminal damage is sentenced as a terrorist. Judges were only given these extraordinary powers in a highly controversial amendment in 2021 to counter-terrorism legislation.

Judge Johnson’s logic for taking advantage of his extra powers in this case is quite extraordinary too. He argues that, in destroying Elbit’s killer drones, the activists were seeking to “influence” the Israeli government to change its policy in Gaza – that is, to stop committing a genocide.

Putting pressure on governments is what terrorists try to do, he argues, so this must mean the anti-genocide activists are terrorists.

Opposition to the genocide, in Judge Johnson’s view, has to be treated as an aggravating factor, not a mitigating one.

It is all the more astounding that Judge Johnson is using this argument when he refused to allow the jury to hear any evidence of the activists’ larger political motivations: that they wanted to stop British complicity in Israel’s genocide by targeting a factory that made the drones for use in that genocide.

Remember, all this is happening as Starmer’s government makes unprecedented moves to end many jury trials in Britain, leaving us to the mercy of judges like Jeremy Johnson.

As Defend Our Juries notes, the government is looking to create “an extraordinary and deeply authoritarian precedent, allowing countless more protesters to be tried for an ordinary offence, but secretly sentenced as terrorists, without juries knowing this when they convict”.

This is an extract from my latest article Legal profession revolt against the UK judge whose job is to protect Israel's genocide. Find a link to the rest in the reply post ⬇️

[Clare Hinchcliffe @Subversivite]

This is the clearest explanation & analysis of what is happening in my daughter's (Filton 25) case I have ever read. Thank you @Jonathan_K_Cook

PLEASE read this to understand the tidal wave of injustice these young prisoners of conscience are facing

[Mosab Abu Toha @MosabAbuToha]

Just in: A video from inside a court in occupied Jerusalem shows Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya appearing via video link and attempting to speak with his attorney before Israeli court security blocked the screen and terminated the call, preventing journalists from filming the exchange or the video appearance.

I listened carefully to what the attorney was saying to Dr. Abu Safiya. It appeared that Dr. Abu Safiya could not hear him. The attorney repeatedly stated that he could neither see nor hear Dr. Abu Safiya after his “captors turned off the camera.” He also informed him that some people were present in the courtroom to show their support and that they were waiting for the judge to arrive so that he could be brought back on screen before the court addressed the appeal.

This is Israel’s democracy. Dr. Abu Safiya has been subjected to starvation, abuse, and cruel torture, and this latest development only adds to concerns about the conditions he has endured and the lack of public scrutiny surrounding his case.

[كأس العالم™ @TrendEPL]

🚨🚨🚨🚨جوزيف بلاتر (رئيس الفيفا سابقًا) :

لا يوجد أحد أكثر رسمية من الحكم، وإذا رفضت دولة دخول حكم لا ينبغي إقامة كأس العالم في مثل هذا البلد.

[Omar Artan @OmarArtand1]

I am deeply grateful for the overwhelming support, encouragement, and kind messages I have received from people around the world. Your solidarity has reminded me that football unites us beyond borders. Thank you to everyone.

[The Footy Feed @TheFootyFeed]

Ian Wright is an absolute hero for saying how we all feel about this World Cup…

“I've just read that the Somalian referee has been denied entry. Every few hours it's another story, another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs," Wright said.

"You know something I'm laughing but it's not funny, it's actually not funny and something has to be said.

"The expensive tickets, the most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof. It has to be said.

"Is this how the hosts behave really for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world, is this how the hosts behave?

"Are we not hearing more? Are we seeing how Qatar got dragged, are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football, really?

"You know who I feel for? I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this, American soccer fans who are desperate for this, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.

"This is the World Cup, this is a World Cup of chaos. Whoever wins this World Cup is going to have to go through some serious chaos to get this done.

"I hope we can do it, but something has to be said now. This is the World Cup."

[The Saviour @TheSaviour]

🚨🇵🇸Statement of the Palestinian doctor Husam Abu Safiya, as conveyed by his lawyer:

“I am a pediatrician, providing medical care to patients, the injured, and the vulnerable in the Gaza Strip.

I have carried out my work in accordance with international law and humanitarian standards.

My arrest is unjust and arbitrary, and I demand my release.”

[Fonsi Loaiza @FonsiLoaiza]

Lo que estamos viendo en la pésima organización del Mundial por parte de Estados Unidos ya lo denunció el entrenador Marcelo Bielsa en la Copa América. Le abrieron expediente disciplinario. Vivimos tiempos en los que se persigue y castiga al que se atreve a decir la verdad.

[Ibrahim Sannie Daara @SannieDaara]

One of the most beautiful moments before Spain vs Peru pre-World Cup did not come from a goal, a tackle or a piece of skill. 🇪🇸 v 🇵🇪 💘

It came from kindness.

As the players walked onto the pitch, Peruvian defender Fabio Gruber noticed that the young boy with Down syndrome accompanying him was feeling cold in the stadium. Without hesitation, he removed his own jacket and gently placed it over the boy’s shoulders.

In that simple act, football showed its heart.

Moments like this are why the world loves football.

As we head towards the 2026 World Cup, may we see more of this spirit on and off the pitch.

#FIFAWorldCup #fwc2026 ⚽❤️

[BladeoftheSun @BladeoftheS]

FIFA President Infantino tried to force the representative of Palestine to stand with Israel and take a picture at the 76th FIFA Congress

Palestine refused instead shouting out "We are suffering"

FIFA is a sick organization and the World Cup should be boycotted by everyone

[The New Arab @The_NewArab]

After stating to the world that she was “centrist” in her politics but “doesn’t feel anything right now” as a guest on The Good Podcast last week, Gweneth Paltrow has now emerged as the face of a new ad campaign for a luxury Israeli residential development while the country continues its genocidal war on Gaza, escalating violence in the West Bank, and invasion of Lebanon.

In the clip, the Oscar-winning actress highlights luxury park-side living in high-end apartments in what seems to be a reference to Central Park apartments in New York, but ends with the revelation that it’s an ad for 51 Park in Herzliya, Israel.

The ad was commissioned by Israeli developer Aviv Melisron and produced by the Israeli agency Why Worry, with filming done in New York.

Paltrow has previously spoken of her Jewish heritage through her father, and publicly expressed support and sympathy for Israeli hostages after October 7.

[China in English @En_chinaNewsX]

Reporter 🇺🇸 : Is the war really about Iran’s nuclear program?

CHINA 🇨🇳 : “No it's all about oil.”

Reporter: Why so?

CHINA: “A warmongering Israel has nuclear weapons, but Iran — the oldest civilization — can’t have them. That’s America’s biggest double standard.”

[Don Winslow @donwinslow]

Roy Cohn taught Donald Trump three rules:

1. Never admit when you're wrong
2. Never concede defeat when you lose
3. Attack anyone who attacks you even when you're wrong.

50 years later - in 2026 America - we are living under the insanity and tyranny of those three rules.

[Clive Lewis MP @labourlewis]

Jess has been a good and principled member of the NEC - faithfully representing the interests of members and unions.

She has my support.

[Mosab Abu Toha @MosabAbuToha]

Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya’s message to the court today as relayed by his attorney:

“I am a pediatrician. I provide medical care to patients, the injured, and vulnerable people in the Gaza Strip. I have carried out my work in accordance with international law and humanitarian standards. My detention is unjust and arbitrary.”

[Richard Sanders @PulaRJS]

Welcome @mehdirhasan to what is actually already a vibrant independent media scene in the UK - @DoubleDownNews @declassifiedUK @MiddleEastEye @thenerve_news @intifada @PDeepDive @BylineTimes @TheCanaryUK @tribunemagazine @M_Star_Online @openDemocracy @ScotNational @novaramedia @democracyforsale @worstlobby - to name just a few.

[We Own It @We_OwnIt]

VICTORY🚨🥳🎉🎊

The government has accepted @RichardBurgon's amendment to close privatisation loopholes in the Railways Bill

We worked with the @ABCommuters and Richard Burgon MP on these key amendments

This is a win for passengers, not profit.

[Quds News Network @QudsNen]

CBS News chief Bari Weiss, who incited Refaat's murder, and he called her out on it before he was eventually murdered by Israel in the Gaza Strip, is reportedly expected to take on editorial oversight of CNN if Paramount Skydance completes its acquisition of Warner Bros.

[sarah @sahouraxo]

Horrifying scenes from South Lebanon.

Israel is carpet bombing Tyre, wiping entire civilian neighborhoods off the map.

No military necessity. No restraint.

Just relentless terror.

This is an American-backed, American-funded genocide.

[Novara Media @novaramedia]

Déjà vu?

Germany is prosecuting five activists alleged to be part of Palestine Action Germany in what their lawyers have described as a “show trial” intended to stigmatise protesters like "terrorists”.