POLICE in a suburban New York City county arrested a keffiyeh-wearing leading pro-Palestinian protester for breaking a new law banning face masks in public, it was reported today.

The move revives fears that the statute is being used to diminish free speech rights.

Nassau County Police Department spokesperson Scott Skrynecki said on Thursday that the North Bellmore resident was arrested on Sunday afternoon during a protest in front of Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, an orthodox synagogue near the New York City borough of Queens.