Police Scotland and the Crown Office attack Palestinian rights activists while Israel expands its aggression

SPSC Statement, 13 June 2025

On the day that Israel expands its aggression in the Middle East by multiple air strikes on Iran, acting with the impunity it has enjoyed for decades, Police Scotland and the Crown Office continue their suppression of opposition to genocide and attempts to hold governments, institutions and corporations to account.

This morning, Police Scotland officers arrested SPSC Spokesperson Mick Napier at his home for breaching bail conditions, specifically for being within the vicinity of Barclays Bank on Argyle Street in Glasgow and for approaching Sammy Stein. Stein is an organiser with Glasgow Friends of Israel, a racist organisation whose activists receive training from Israeli government officials to counter the success of the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel (BDS). Every Saturday, Stein and his friends harass the Barclays Bank protesters in Glasgow, baiting and filming protestors directly in their faces. Police Scotland has refused to intervene to prevent Stein's aggression.

Like many other Palestinian rights activists across Scotland and beyond, Mick Napier is under charge for protesting Israeli genocide, stepping in to hold institutions and corporations to account for their complicity when our governments have failed. Israel's attacks on Iran are a clear reminder to us that the Israeli government understand that they will not be held to account for their crimes. Meanwhile, we learn more about how the Scottish Government continues to provide funding to arms companies and how the British military is training Israeli Occupation Forces in this country.

The involvement of the British Government in carrying out genocide, and the refusal of the Scottish Government to move to sanction Israel, as they did so quickly against Russia, are despicable and need to be actively opposed.

If you are moved to anger and disgust, and fear that our governments are driving us toward more war while the far right grows, then we call on you to:

• Join the national demonstration - and organise your friends, family and contacts to attend - in Glasgow, tomorrow Saturday 14 June, gather at 12.30pm at Glasgow Green, McLennan Arch
• Join SPSC
• If you are already a member, get involved in our campaigns - we can only win if we focus our energies: message 07931200361
• Donate to SPSC's Fighting Fund to help support members arrested for opposing genocide

The situation for Palestinians in Gaza facing genocidal attacks, for Palestinians facing ethnic cleansing in the Occupied West Bank with daily violence from Israeli military and settlers - we are also fighting for our rights here in Scotland.