UN criticises Just Stop Oil jail sentences

An official of the UN has contacted the Government with concerns that climate protestors are facing unduly harsh sentences at court.

Ian Fry, a UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change has written to the Government "regarding the arrest and severity of the sentences of Mr Trowland and Mr Decker in relation to their work as environmental human rights defenders".

Trowland and Decker were arrested for causing a traffic gridlock on the Dartford Crossing Bridge and jailed for three years and two years for causing a public nuisance.

It is worth noting that the Judiciary is independent of the Government, although, of course, the Government makes the law, including the new Public Order Act. The Judge is charge of the cases has also responded saying that it is legitimate to attempt to deter others from such actions.

The issues comes at a time when viewpoints are both diverging and hardening, brought into focus by another protest on London Bridge that delayed an ambulance during an emergency.

The right to protest is set against the right of the “law-abiding majority" to go about their daily lives.

Speaking from prison via X, Morgan Trowland said: "The sentences given to myself and Marcus Decker demonstrate that our government is determined to protect those who are planning climate genocide. It's people vs oil and our government has signalled that it is on the side of oil".



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