A UNIVERSITY student is facing up to 14 years in jail for supporting Palestine, the Defend SOAS2 campaign warned today.

Sarah Cotte, 21, was charged with “inviting support for a proscribed organisation” under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act in March, after the Met Police was tagged in a video from 2023, allegedly showing her speaking at Soas University on Palestinians’ right to armed resistance to foreign occupation, which is guaranteed in international law.

Defend SOAS2 said Met Police arrested Ms Cotte following pressure from UK Lawyers for Israel during a dawn raid on January 31, 2024.

Another student from the university in London has also been arrested under the charges.

Campaigners gathered outside the Old Bailey in support of Ms Cotte today as the court considered the admissibility of expert evidence in her case.  

One of the protest organisers, who only shared the name Cat, said: “This case represents an egregious example of the extension by the British state of the use of terrorism charges against those expressing solidarity with Palestine.

“[This use] has been strongly criticised by the United Nations Human Rights Commission.”

Speakers at the action included a representative of the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network UK.