Israel’s imperialist backers are massively escalating their campaign to criminalise any and all defence of the Palestinian people. On 12 April, Berlin authorities mobilised more than 900 police to shut down a Palestine solidarity conference. Now, the Austrian state is set to begin the criminal trial of Michael Pröbsting, a leader of the Revolutionary Communist International Tendency threatened with two years in prison for his group’s activism for Palestine. In Britain, police continue to arrest pro-Palestinian protesters, while throughout Europe attacks on the left are combined with attempts to proscribe Islamic groups.

The imperialists are firmly united in upholding their Zionist outpost in the Middle East. The response must be the firmest unity in action of the Palestinian and workers movements in defence of all the imperialists’ intended victims. In our last issue, we warned that each of the British left groups being suppressed for defending Palestine was “mobilising only its own forces and never collaborating or actively seeking to involve each other in common defence work.” That is the road to defeat for all!

What is urgently needed is united-front defence of the left and Muslim organisations. And that requires pushing back against the imperialists’ lapdogs in the workers movement, for whom such struggle is a red line they dare not cross. Left-Labour MP Zarah Sultana refused to sign the PDC petition defending pro-Palestinian activists, printed below, when she saw it also opposed the ban of the Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, knowing that her signature would incur the wrath of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

The petition notes the use of anti-terrorism laws against the Revolutionary Communist Group (RCG) in London. RCG supporters also face trumped-up charges of assault on police, resisting arrest and breach of peace stemming from a pro-Palestine protest in December outside a Scottish Labour Party event in Glasgow, where Starmer was speaking.

Shortly after we initiated that petition, Tory “levelling up” secretary Michael Gove moved to open the floodgates of repression by designating several Muslim organisations as “extremist”. But there hasn’t been any fightback. As we stressed in our 25 March call (see below), the widespread denunciations of Gove’s crusade by socialist and Muslim groups needs to be turned into action.

It is with the same urgency that we call on the entire workers movement and all pro-Palestinian activists to join in worldwide protests against the prosecution of Michael Pröbsting, an attack on the Palestinian movement as a whole. His conviction would open the door to any organisation being dragged through the courts for supporting resistance to the genocide in Gaza. Hands off pro-Palestinian protesters!

Protest Austria’s repression of pro-Palestinian socialists!

While Israeli bombs continue to rain down on Gaza, Michael Pröbsting, International Secretary of the Revolutionary Communist International Tendency, faces trial in Vienna on 2 May for defending the Palestinians and opposing the Zionist state. Charged with “incitement to commit terrorist offences and approval of terrorist offences”, Michael could serve up to two years in jail if found guilty. This would set a precedent for governments throughout Western Europe to criminalise all those who stand in defence of Palestine. Other activists, including two supporters of the International Marxist Tendency, have also been questioned by the Austrian state under the same “hate speech” legislation.

The International Communist League and its fraternal defence organisations call on the left, the Palestinian movement, and on all fighters for civil liberties, to protest Michael’s prosecution. Join us in organising demonstrations outside as many Austrian embassies and consulates as possible in the days leading up to his 2 May trial.

Contact us to co-ordinate our efforts at contact@partisandefence.org.uk.

Endorsed by the RCIT

For more information and to sign the petition “No to the Criminal Complaint against Pro-Palestine Activist Michael Pröbsting!”, see https://www.thecommunists.net/rcit/petition-no-to-criminal-complaint-against-pro-palestine-activist-michael-proebsting

London protest

Monday 29 April, 5:30pm, Austrian Embassy

18 Belgrave Square, SW1X 8PQ (Nearest Tube: Hyde Park Corner)

Initiated by the Partisan Defence Committee

07438 878 627 • contact@partisandefence.org.uk • @PDCBritain

Fight Gove’s anti-Muslim “extremism” crusade!

For over six months, hundreds of thousands have marched in cities across the country against Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza. In response, both the Tories and Starmer’s Labour Party have vilified pro-Palestinian activists and many have been arrested. Escalating these attacks, the government with the support of Labour recently moved to designate several Muslim organisations as “extremist”, which opens the door to an outright ban. This is an outrageous threat to the entire Muslim community in Britain. The government’s repression of a vulnerable minority of the British population represents an attack on the whole workers movement as well as the left. It must be opposed by the broadest possible forces. An injury to one is an injury to all!

The organisers of the national marches as well as Muslim and socialist groups have denounced the government’s attack. They speak of legal actions and call to continue to demonstrate for Palestine. While necessary, this is far from enough. Many have recognised that this is one of the most severe attacks on democratic rights since Prevent but it has not yet been met with a strong and large fightback! We call on the Muslim Association of Britain, CAGE International, MEND, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Stop the War Coalition, trade unions and all socialist organisations to come together in a united front.

A first obvious step is to organise a large national demonstration to defend the rights of Muslims and oppose the government’s attacks as soon as is feasible.

— 25 March 2024

No to repression of pro-Palestinian activists!

As western-made bombs rain on Gaza and Yemen, the British state is cracking down on and intimidating pro-Palestinian activists at home. This repression is a direct threat to the workers movement, the left and anyone who stands in opposition to British foreign policy. We condemn this repression and demand that all charges against pro-Palestinian protesters be dropped.

In particular, we denounce the sinister use of anti-terrorism laws against the leftist Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) and Revolutionary Communist Group (FRFI) as well as the Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir. This does not mean support for these organisations, or their views, but a recognition that the state’s attacks on them must be protested and denounced by the broadest possible forces.

An injury to one is an injury to all!

Signatories as of 11 March 2024, with the full list of signatories available on the petition website:

Len McCluskey (Unite)*, Liverpool

John Rees (NUJ)*, London

Andrew Feinstein, London

Craig Murray, Edinburgh

Chris Hedges (The Real News)*, Princeton, USA

*signed as individuals

Click here to sign the petition