Richard McNeil-Willson
@mcneilwillson.bsky.social
4.4K followers 830 following 140 posts
Lecturer in Global Muslim Studies, University of Edinburgh. Formerly Leiden, Cambridge and European University Institute. Scottish Greens member. Tha mi ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig. e: [email protected]
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
We’ve met with Greta Thunberg and others in the flotilla. They describe hours-long scenes of torture and sexual harassment in Israeli captivity. Experts conclude that they have been subjected to serious crimes – Sweden’s foreign minister believes they have themselves to blame.

tinyurl.se/crR
Greta Thunberg: “They kicked me every time the flag touched my face”
– Greta Thunberg on her days in Israeli captivity Beating, kicking, and threats of being gassed in cages. Greta Thunberg and several others from the flotilla ar
www.aftonbladet.se
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
We’re now on LinkedIn!

The Critical Studies on Terrorism (CTS) Working Group has officially joined LinkedIn — and we’re thrilled to share updates from our growing community.

Follow us there for regular updates on our work, our conferences, and how to get involved!

www.linkedin.com/in/cst-bisa-...
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
Make sure you get your #BISA2026 submissions in 🎉
'Is International Studies ready for what comes next? New thinking, new directions' 🌎

‼️Find out more about #BISA2026 & how great Brighton is - a creative, sustainable welcoming and diverse city: https://ow.ly/M0Tu50X5tt7

@julietdryden.bsky.social
Conference social media card with the BISA logo, #BISA2026, Brighton, UK, 3-5 June, submission deadline: 3 November, conference.bisa.ac.uk
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
After the rivers of blood speech, precisely no one in the major parties patted themselves on the back and declared free speech to be alive and well. They declared Powell a pariah, and he was only able to re-emerge in public life as the incongruous unionist MP for South Down.
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
Zeer relevant ihkv aanstaande wetswijziging in Nederland waarmee beoogd wordt verheerlijking van terrorisme steafbaar te stellen.
Absolutely jaw-dropping figures of UK Terrorism-related arrests.

Scholars have been warning for years that counterterrorism law is dangerous, racist, poorly conceived, largely unnecessary, and ripe for abuse.

Here is the result - its systematic use against protestors campaigning against genocide.
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
BDS victory! The Scottish Parliament becomes the first in the world to endorse BDS against genocidal Israel.

BDS calls for escalated civil society pressure on all states to impose legal and targeted sanctions against apartheid Israel similar to those that helped abolish apartheid in South Africa.
Absolutely jaw-dropping figures of UK Terrorism-related arrests.

Scholars have been warning for years that counterterrorism law is dangerous, racist, poorly conceived, largely unnecessary, and ripe for abuse.

Here is the result - its systematic use against protestors campaigning against genocide.
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
Every one of these protests is a terrifying experience for the asylum seekers - the wider atmosphere in the country is horrible & Labour’s reaction craven. But it’s worth remembering how much of this is generated by politicians & media openly desperate for broad unrest which simply isn’t happening
Times: "Asylum protests swell across the UK " headline, reporting an underwhelming wave.

Leeds "draws 70"
Cardiff "disorganised + small"
Altrincham "*swelled* to around 200"
Cheshunt about 250
Chichester: about 100
Portsmouth: about 70 v 70 on each side

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
🔴Robert Jenrick and the Conservative Party’s Embrace of ‘Blood and Soil’ Nationalism

The British right is adopting an increasingly extreme form of ethnic identity politics, while failing to explain what the rest of us should be so worried about, argues @jdportes.bsky.social
Robert Jenrick and the Conservative Party's Embrace of 'Blood and Soil' Nationalism
The British right is adopting an increasingly extreme form of ethnic identity politics, while failing to explain what the rest of us are supposed to be so worried about, argues Jonathan Portes
bylinetimes.com
Whilst proscription of Palestine Action is a mess caused by this Govt, years of legislation led us here.

"A person commits an offence if he wears clothing to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation." (2019 Counterterror & Border Security Act/s.13)
This is hilarious but also underlines the danger of a strict liability offence where the police only have to prove that your slogan gives rise to a reasonable suspicion that you support a proscribed organisation.
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
Perhaps, one day, schoolkids will study this squalid little chapter in British terror-panic history. When they do, I hope these two headlines from today are printed side by side, with clear annotation of which individual faced more outrage and condemnation.
Headline: BBC under pressure to pull Sally Rooney dramas over vow to fund Palestine Action Headline: Tory minister Robert Jenrick pictured with former Nazi terror chief at far right protest.
Apologies for misunderstanding! Agreed!
I'm sorry to hear you choose to paint those protesting draconian counterterror legislation as having a 'hissy fit'.
Perhaps, although they are interpretating UK law.

It is not conspiracy that, under current UK law, financial and moral support of a proscribed 'terrorist' organisation can see up to 14 years in prison. The law does not differentiate on this point as to whether the accused is a UK citizen or not.
Keir Starmer threatening a prominent Irish author with counterterror legislation is grim and is a threat to UK-Irish relations.

It is a keen reminder that UK counterterrorism was born from generations of bloody acts of British colonialism in Ireland, and seeks the repression of liberation politics.
Keir Starmer's spokesman asked about author Sally Rooney's plans to donate her royalties to Palestine Action, says that supporting the group is a terrorist offence and "obviously the police will implement the law"
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
Welcome to the UK, where holding a sign which says “PALESTINE ACTION” (or could be interpreted as supportive of them) in a public square while protesting genocide = terrorism, but holding a sign saying “KILL EM ALL” in front of a hotel housing migrants = not terrorism, doesn’t even get you arrested.
A group of racist cretins stand in front of a couple of disinterested police officers. The racist at the front and centre holds a sign which reads, “KILL EM ALL. LET GOD SORT ‘EM OUT.”
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
Sally Rooney putting her money where her mouth is (figuratively of course). Bravo.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
Keir Starmer's spokesman asked about author Sally Rooney's plans to donate her royalties to Palestine Action, says that supporting the group is a terrorist offence and "obviously the police will implement the law"
The prison system is collapsing from overcrowding and Keir Starmer has young people and grannies locked up for supporting Palestine Action - in this case, for over a year, in a high security prison, without a trial.

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
‘My daughter Zoe is not a terrorist. Why has she spent a ...
The mother of jailed Palestine Action protester says she is proud of her and angry at the UK government
observer.co.uk
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
Arresting 400+ people for the "terrorist" offence of protesting against mass murder while large segments of the right are openly encouraging riots against immigrants is a tale of a very unhappy country and government.
Reposted by Richard McNeil-Willson
In the UK people can wave a swastika and throw Nazi salutes at far-right rallies but a pensioner holding a “Palestine Action” sign is where the law draws the line