The case of 21-year-old Zoe Rogers has become emblematic of the growing tension in the UK surrounding pro-Gaza activism. Arrested amid protests against Israeli arms manufacturing, she remains in custody for a year without facing terrorism charges, drawing intense scrutiny over the use of anti-terror laws against activists.
Arrest During Filton Raid and Detention Without Trial
Zoe Rogers was arrested on August 6, 2024, during a Palestine Action raid on an Elbit Systems site in Filton, near Bristol. Now 21, she marked nearly a year spent in high-security incarceration at HMP Bronzefield without trial or a terrorism charge.
No Terrorism Charge, Yet Held Under Terrorism Powers
Crucially, Rogers has not been charged with a terrorist offence, even though she continues to be detained using anti-terrorism legislation. Her mother, Clare Hinchcliffe, has voiced outrage, insisting her daughter is “not a terrorist”.
The “Filton 24” and Legal Ambiguities
Rogers is among the group referred to as the “Filton 24,” consisting of activists detained for actions during the Elbit site raid. While authorities allege serious offences including violent disorder and criminal damage, legal experts and activists question whether proscription of Palestine Action (which occurred after her arrest) justifies continued detention.
Solidarity and Advocacy Groups Weigh In
Supporters have rallied around Rogers. A solidarity site details her arrest date and underscores her pretrial detention. Meanwhile, social media statements from supporters paint her imprisonment as politically motivated: “she has been imprisoned before trial” in what is described as an abuse of counter-terror powers.
Reflecting Broader Tensions in UK Protest Culture
Rogers’s case highlights broader debates in the UK about how anti-terror legislation is being leveraged against non-violent pro-Palestinian activism. As public concern grows over the suppression of protest rights, her situation has become a litmus test for civil liberties and free speech in the context of Gaza solidarity movements.
From: radionisaa