Today Bow Street Magistrates Court found Milan Rai guilty of “organising an unauthorised demonstration” within one kilometre of Parliament under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.

Represented by Liberty, Rai was the first person to be charged with this offence. His refusal to pay a £500 fine including costs because of his opposition to the protest ban means he could face up to 3 months imprisonment.

Rai and another protester, Maya Evans, were arrested last year at the Cenotaph in Whitehall as they read out the names of UK soldiers and civilians killed in the war in Iraq.

Anna Fairclough, Legal Officer for Liberty, said:

“Many would agree that peacefully commemorating victims of war is perfectly reasonable, which makes the court’s failure to act against this preposterous law all the more disappointing. Freedom of expression is too precious to be marginalised in this way.”

In December 2005 Maya Evans became the first person convicted of ‘participating in an unauthorised demonstration’ under SOCPA. She is challenging this decision in the High Court.

Contact: Jen Corlew on 020 7378 3656 or 07973 831 128

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. On 3 April 2006, the Home Office appealed last year’s High Court decision that Brian Haw, who has held a permanent anti-war vigil in Parliament Square for four years, is exempt from the SOCPA ban on unauthorised protest near Parliament.

2. On 7 April 2006, Mark Barrett was found guilty of violating SOCPA protest laws and fined £500 including costs for meeting other activists for weekly “tea and cake” parties in Parliament Square.

3. The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA) prohibits any demonstrations of one person or more within 1 square kilometre of the Houses of Parliament unless prior permission has been sought in writing from the police. Generally at least 6 days notice should be given, although a minimum of at least 24 hours notice will suffice where this isn't practicable. Under SOCPA, an individual may be charged with organising a demonstration, participating in a demonstration, or demonstrating as an individual without permission.