Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Shamik Dutta @shamikd.bsky.social · 5h

A great event tonight and for a good cause. Livestream and in-person tickets in the link below

Arpita Dutt www.arpitadutt.com @arpitadutt.bsky.social · 8h

TONIGHT - 15 October 2025, tickets still available. An arts fundraiser in aid of bringing the ‘Daughters of Jerusalem’ choir to perform in London, and to support the Edward Said Conservatory of Music in Gaza.

Livestream tickets:
shorturl.at/rr8Ql

Venue tickets:

buytickets.at/theoldchurch...

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Amnesty International UK @amnestyuk.bsky.social · 1d

GOOD NEWS: On July 14th, Kent Police threatened this protestor, Laura Murton, with arrest for holding a Palestinian flag and placards stating "Free Gaza" and "Israel is committing genocide". Thousands raised the alarm, and Police Kent has now apologised.

good news: Kent police forced to apologise to protester

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Shamik Dutta @shamikd.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you for your support! The written apology on behalf of the Chief Constable is here, with more details on our website: bhattmurphy.co.uk/newsroom/chi...

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Shamik Dutta @shamikd.bsky.social · 2d

Very pleased to report this outcome for my client but regrettably, Ms Murton’s experience is not unique. Given the national failure of police forces to respect rights to free speech in the context of demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian people her case is unlikely to be the last.

Bhatt Murphy Solicitors @bhattmurphy.bsky.social · 2d

Chief Constable of Kent police apologises & agrees to pay damages to pro-Palestine protester threatened with arrest under the Terrorism Act. Ms Murton is represented by Shamik Dutta @shamikd.bsky.social, Caleb Simpson and Rachel Cope-Thompson at Bhatt Murphy 1/2

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Kent police apologise to protester threatened with arrest for holding Palestine flag

Force agrees to pay damages to Laura Murton, 43, who also had sign saying ‘Israel is committing genocide’

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Thomas @markthomasinfo.bsky.social · 2d

This is happening👇

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrate-...

Celebrate Palestine

Evening of song, music and poetry in aid of the Daughters of Jerusalem choir and the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Gaza.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · Aug 11

Letter of the day (in the Times)

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Bhatt Murphy Solicitors @bhattmurphy.bsky.social · Aug 8

Pro-Palestine protester threatened with arrest takes legal action against Kent police. @shamikd.bsky.social and Caleb Simpson at Bhatt Murphy act for Laura Murton.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Pro-Palestine protester threatened with arrest takes legal action against Kent police

Laura Murton seeks damages and apology after police said her demonstration expressed support for banned Palestine Action

www.theguardian.com

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Jenny Frecklington-Jones #IStandWithWatermelon🍉🍉 @joneshowdareyou.bsky.social · Jun 30

Journalist Rachel Shabi, who is Jewish, weighs in at LBC on the fallout of Bob Vylan’s controversial performance. #GazaGenocide

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Disability Rights UK @disrightsuk.bsky.social · Jul 1

🚨DPOs Criticise Institutionalised Ignorance From Ableist State in Pandemic and Say Nothing Has Changed

'In light of our learnings from the pandemic, I can't see this as anything but a complete disregard for the continued survival of Disabled people'👇
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/disable...

Disabled People’s Organisations Criticise “Institutionalised

www.disabilityrightsuk.org

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Kneecap @kneecapceol.bsky.social · Jun 28

1 hour to go.....

DJ Provai in his trademark tricolour bally, and a t-shirt saying "WE ARE ALL PALESTINE ACTION", an hour before Kneecap plays Glastonbury 2025.

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Bhatt Murphy Solicitors @bhattmurphy.bsky.social · Jun 26

BREAKING: Two Metropolitan Police officers have been found to have committed gross misconduct and one officer misconduct for their roles in the strip search of #ChildQ. Bhatt Murphy represent ChildQ. More details and family statement to follow. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Child Q strip-search was gross misconduct, panel finds - BBC News

The girl, who was wrongly suspected of possessing cannabis, was searched by police at her school.

www.bbc.com

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Saul Staniforth @saulstaniforth.bsky.social · Jun 24

On LBC @zoejardiniere.bsky.social lists 3 previous instances where military aircraft have been targeted by campaigners in order to prevent them being used in war crimes, and she describes the govt banning Palestine Action as terrorists as an abuse of state power.

Well said.

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Shamik Dutta @shamikd.bsky.social · Jun 23

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view on Palestine Action: if red paint is terrorism, what isn’t? | Editorial

Editorial: Labelling direct action as an act of terror criminalises dissent, chills speech and redefines nuisance as extremism under the banner of national security

www.theguardian.com

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Shamik Dutta @shamikd.bsky.social · Jun 22

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Israel kills innocent Palestinians. Activists spray-paint a plane. Guess which the UK government calls terrorism | Sally Rooney

If Palestine Action becomes a proscribed group, writing these words of support could become a serious offence. It’s vital we fight this alarming attack on free speech, says writer Sally Rooney

www.theguardian.com

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Bhatt Murphy Solicitors @bhattmurphy.bsky.social · May 20

Bhatt Murphy clients to bring legal action against the Metropolitan Police following their arrests on suspicion of perverting the course of justice after they displayed posters citing a 17th century constitutional principle. More details here: gofund.me/79c1e6b4

Donate to Help Cathy, Olly and Sally take action against the Met, organized by Cathy Eastburn

We (Cathy, Oliver and Sally (Bells)) were arrested by the Met Po… Cathy Eastburn needs your support for Help Cathy, Olly and Sally take action against the Met

gofund.me

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Bhatt Murphy Solicitors @bhattmurphy.bsky.social · Jun 19

Metropolitan Police pay £25,000 in damages to Black man detained in handcuffs outside his home because he was “driving a nice car at night”. Erica San and Megan Phillips act for WG. More details on our website here:

bhattmurphy.co.uk/newsroom/met...

Metropolitan Police pay £25,000 damages to Black man detained in handcuffs after “driving a nice car at night” | Bhatt Murphy

WG, a black man, was driving home from work in early 2022 when he was stopped by Metropolitan Police officers outside his home. Despite exiting his vehicle as requested and explaining to the officers ...

bhattmurphy.co.uk

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Shamik Dutta @shamikd.bsky.social · May 27

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

UK must impose sanctions on Israel to meet legal obligations, say more than 800 lawyers

Exclusive: Letter to PM signed by retired supreme court justices among others says lack of action will imperil international legal system

www.theguardian.com

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Bhatt Murphy Solicitors @bhattmurphy.bsky.social · May 20

BREAKING: Prisoners who gave birth in handcuffs sue Ministry of Justice

“Throughout this whole period from start to finish I cried and begged them to remove the handcuffs”

Jane Ryan, Joanna Khan and Renata Sweeney act for the women taking legal action.

www.thetimes.com/article/8502...

Prisoners who gave birth in handcuffs sue Ministry of Justice

One of five women who went into labour while an inmate at HMP Bronzefield says she begged officers to remove her restraints in the hospital

www.thetimes.com

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Daniel Machover @dmachover.bsky.social · May 17

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
‘We are human rights lawyers. Our new report is clear: Israel perpetrates apartheid…By publishing this op-ed, we expose ourselves to harassment and risk losing our jobs. But if we silence ourselves on Palestine, how can we call ourselves human rights defenders?’

We are human rights lawyers. Our new report is clear: Israel perpetrates apartheid | Sandra L Babock, Susan M Akram, Thomas Becker and James Cavallaro

We conclude that Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, including mass killing, arbitrary detention and torture, meets the legal threshold for the term

www.theguardian.com

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INQUEST @inquest-org.bsky.social · May 14

We are pleased to see the Housing, Communities & Local Govt. Committee call for an independent National Oversight Mechanism to ensure Grenfell inquiry recommendations are fully implemented and that ‘the Government is held to account... and is not left marking its own homework.'

➡️ bit.ly/456FfuD

Housing Committee calls for independent national oversight mechanism to ensure Grenfell inquiry recommendations are implemented - Committees - UK Parliament

The Government should introduce an independent national oversight mechanism and not be‘left marking its own homework’ when implementing the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower inquiry, s...

bit.ly

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INQUEST @inquest-org.bsky.social · May 12

Our Director @debcoles13.bsky.social is currently giving crucial evidence to the Lampard Inquiry looking into thousands of deaths in Essex mental health services.

She's reiterating our call for a National Oversight Mechanism to end preventable deaths.

Watch here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et2k...

The Lampard Inquiry Live - Day 18 12/05/25 AM

YouTube video by The Lampard Inquiry

www.youtube.com

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Amnesty International UK @amnestyuk.bsky.social · May 13

We’re back at the High Court to intervene in the case brought by Al Haq & GLAN to demand the UK Gov end ALL arms exports to Israel.

Not a few.

Not thirty.

ALL.

The UK has a legal obligation to prevent genocide - and right now Keir Starmer's gov is failing.

#StopArmingIsrael #EndGazaGenocide

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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · May 12

A comprehensive comms success.

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Nadia Whittome MP @nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social · May 12

The step-up in anti-migrant rhetoric from the government is shameful and dangerous.

Migrants are our neighbours, friends and family.

To suggest that Britain risks becoming “an island of strangers” because of immigration mimics the scaremongering of the far-right.

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Bhatt Murphy Solicitors @bhattmurphy.bsky.social · Apr 28

Family of Hubert “Isaac” Brown demand answers after Christina Howell is sentenced for his racist homicide. Erica San, Abisola Bishi & Sophie Naftalin @sophienaftalin.bsky.social act for Isaac’s family who are supported by Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI). www.channel4.com/news/woman-w... 1/2

Woman who killed man in racist attack ordered to stay in hospital

In Bristol, a woman with a long history of mental illness has been ordered to remain in a secure hospital, after she fatally stabbed a man in a racist unprovoked attack in 2023.

www.channel4.com

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