Five Palestine Action activists who were convicted in June of vandalizing a Barclays bank in the UK will not be sentenced as terrorists.
As reported by Al Jazeera on Friday, Judge Robert Altham determined that the five defendants—Brendon O’Hagan, 28; Amanda Kelly, 31; Hmeera Atiqnisar, 31; Mohammed Malik, 28; and Alma Yaniv, 70—did not commit crimes that rose to the level of terrorism.
Instead, the judge said, they will be sentenced in September for criminal damage to the bank, which will carry significantly shorter prison sentences compared to a terrorism sentencing.
According to The Guardian, attorneys representing the defendants argued that their clients' Palestine Action membership should not influence a decision to sentence them on terrorism because the group wasn't proscribed as a terrorist organization until long after the vandalism took place.
The five activists were found guilty two months ago of causing damage exceeding £200,000 to the Barclays bank in Burnley, Lancashire in August 2024. Palestine Action activists across the UK targeted Barclays branches due to its investments in Elbit Systems, and Israeli defense technology firm.
The activists issued a joint statement after the ruling saying they were "extremely relieved" by the outcome, while emphasizing that a terrorism sentence should never have been under consideration.
"This should never have been an option,” they said. "We were on trial for charges of criminal damage, for damaging some windows and spraying red paint on a Barclays branch. At no point during the trial were we, or the jury, informed that, if convicted, we could face being sentenced as terrorists."
Supporters of the activists erupted in cheers outside the court after hearing the news. Dove Malik, mother of defendant Mohammed Malik, expressed relief in an interview with Al Jazeera.
"It’s a victory for us," said Malik, "it’s a victory for Palestine, it’s a victory for protesting."
