Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
Over 60,000 sign petition demanding release of non-violent political prisoners
The Whole Truth Five (from left to right) Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, Cressida Gethin, Louise Lancaster, Daniel Shaw and Roger Hallam

A PETITION signed by over 60,000 people demanding the release of non-violent climate activists was delivered to the Ministry of Justice today.

The petition, containing over 100 pages of signatures, demands “the immediate end to the imprisonment of brave, non-violent political prisoners, jailed for telling the truth and acting in resistance to continued extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal.”

It was delivered to Britain’s Attorney General Richard Hermer KC, and accompanied by a letter from campaign group Defend Our Juries, renewing calls for a public meeting to discuss the government’s violations of international law.

The petition comes after UN Special Rapporteur Michel Forst warned that lengthy multi-year sentences handed to peaceful Just Stop Oil activists are “not acceptable in a democracy.”

Two months ago, the activists were sentenced to a combined 21 years in prison for organising a peaceful protest over a Zoom call. 

After witnessing the case of one of the activists, Daniel Shaw, Mr Forst  sent a letter warning Britain that it may be violating its obligations under the Aarhus Convention, in penalising individuals for seeking their right to engage in peaceful environmental protest.

The Defend Our Juries letter warns that if demands for a public meeting are not met, actions will escalate, starting with a public exhibition on political prisoners, set to take place outside Southwark Crown Court on September 27.

The petition has been signed from individuals from all walks of life, including farmers, teachers, artists, scientists and construction workers.

Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Extinction Rebellion activists protest outside the Royal Cou
Britain / 7 March 2025
7 March 2025
Just six years cut from 41-year jail sentence for Just Stop Oil activists