Oxford Actionist for Palestine Arrested

3 November 2024

Police awoke Wren, an actionist of Palestine Action, at 5:45am on October 28th in a raid on their home, seizing devices, a keffiyeh, and Palestine stickers. Despite being arrested on suspicion of 'criminal damage', Wren was interrogated primarily about the inner workings of Palestine Action, rather than the alleged 'crimes'. Police failed to remand Wren and released them on harsh bail conditions.

The police also questioned Wren about involvement in Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P), referencing Palestine-related stickers, and banned them from university grounds and buildings.

OA4P and Palestine Action are separate organisations with distinct aims, but we share the same commitment to holding institutions accountable for their complicity in israeli genocide, apartheid, and occupation. Wren has been targeted in a way that exemplifies the escalating harassment, intimidation, and criminalization of the fight for justice, doled out under false pretenses worldwide. The University of Oxford has shamefully adopted this same approach, typified by the quietly updated University statues pertaining to student protests.

OA4P has felt an increase in the University's aggressive targeting and usage of criminalizing language, which facilitates this type of behavior from the police and further contributes to the broader repression of protestors.

OA4P, its members, and people merely visually associating with Palestine have been targeted by the University. Just this Monday, security attempted to intimidate members of OA4P, who were facilitating an ongoing vigil in remembrance of Palestinian martyrs, to show their IDs, identify a 'leader', and to shut down the vigil. They justified this harassment through leveraging the threat of disciplinary action and seizure of personal property. This level of harassment was directed at a vigil, in just one instance of a much larger series of actions taken by the University. Students who have been involved in OA4P have also been arrested for peaceful protest, brutalized by police called by the Vice Chancellor, unreasonably questioned by proctors, and faced harassment and unwarranted disciplinary action.

Normalization of the ad hoc usage of purposely broad disciplinary and criminal categories to target organizing for Palestine is also a concerning legitimization of Islamophobia and Anti-Palestinian racism. OA4P condemns the police's abuse of power in targeting a fellow member of the broad community of pro-Palestine organizing, and are further concerned by the intensity of focus on cultural and national symbols which are not shorthand for criminal or suspicious action.

OA4P CALLS FOR THAMES VALLEY POLICE TO LIFT ALL BAIL CONDITIONS, DROP ALL CHARGES, AND TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION REGARDING THIS BASELESS TARGETING AND HARASSMENT OF WREN.