A MAN was arrested at a court in Edinburgh for allegedly wearing a T-shirt “underneath” his jacket that expressed support for Palestine Action.
The 56-year-old had appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday with several other pro-Palestine campaigners in relation to another charge.
The man told The National that he was arrested in the courtroom after the case was adjourned while he attempted to leave the room.
He said that two officers had stopped him at the door and asked him to “unzip” his jacket as they believed he was wearing a T-shirt which expressed support for a proscribed organisation.
The man, who has asked to remain anonymous, said that when he declined, the two officers appeared to speak with a more senior officer who had been watching the group of around 30 campaigners from the front of the court.
He claimed that he believed the T-shirt had been concealed from the officer to an extent that no one would be able to read what it said due to his jacket obscuring it.
The man said that when he declined to unzip his jacket, he was told he was under arrest and then led to another room in the court by the three officers.
He said that when the officers asked him to unzip his jacket again, he challenged them to tell him what they believed the T-shirt said.
At which point he alleged the more senior-looking officer of the three then unzipped his jacket to reveal the T-shirt.
The man said he was wearing a T-shirt that read “Genocide in Palestine, time to take action” with the words “Palestine” and “action” enhanced.
The man said he was then charged with an offence under the Terrorism Act for wearing a T-shirt expressing support for a proscribed organisation.
He was later released.
The direct-action group Palestine Action was named a proscribed organisation in the UK last year, and it is a criminal offence to show support for the group.
A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed that a man was arrested and charged at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in connection with a terror offence.
They said: “A 56-year-old man was arrested and charged at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 25 August, 2026, in connection with an offence under the Terrorism Act for wearing a T-shirt expressing support for a proscribed organisation.
“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
