Over 1,500 people facing terrorism charges in connection with Palestine Action protests had their cases listed for hearings in London on Thursday, causing "chaos" in the city.
The campaign group Defend Our Juries (DOJ) reported that hundreds of people who faced terrorism charges for allegedly holding signs in support of the banned direct action group Palestine Action had been informed that their trials, initially scheduled for 30 July, were postponed until October.
However on Wednesday some 1,579 people - including those who had received letters notifying them of the adjournment - were listed for trials on Thursday by Westminster Crown Court.
Notices contained contradictory information. One letter seen by Middle East Eye informed the recipient that they “must attend” the 30 July hearing, before instructing them: “Please do not attend court” on that day.
DOJ said that the confusion is symptomatic of the “chaos” unleashed by the ban, which has sent the criminal justice system into “complete meltdown”.
