He was issued the ban two weeks ago after being accused of supporting a proscribed organisation, Palestine Action, at a protest in Glasgow.
16:52, 08 Aug 2025Updated 17:17, 08 Aug 2025
Sean Clerkin and his supporters outside Glasgow Sheriff Court(Image: DAILY RECORD)
A pro-Palestine activist has won his fight to have a Glasgow city centre ban revoked.
Sean Clerkin was issued the ban two weeks ago after being accused of supporting a proscribed organisation, Palestine Action, at a protest in Glasgow.
He was released from police custody pending a court hearing on October 7 and was ordered not to enter an exclusion zone around the city centre.
The 64-year-old, who challenged the ban at Glasgow Sheriff Court this week, said his win was a “victory for democracy”.
The Barrhead man told the Paisley Daily Express: “This a victory for our civic and political rights, freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of assembly.
“We are supposed to live in a liberal democracy but it will only remain so if people are permitted to engage in legal protest.”
Sean was arrested under the Terrorism Act after taking part in a demonstration at Nelson Mandela Place in the city.
It called for Palestine Action to be removed from the UK Government’s list of proscribed organisations and for an end to genocide in Gaza.
Sean allegedly held a placard that read “Genocide in Palestine Time to Take Action” and was accused of showing support for a banned organisation.
He appealed his subsequent bail conditions as “excessive and draconian” and said the city centre ban would prevent him from fulfilling his role as tenants rights advocate for the Scottish Tenants Organisation, as well as visiting family.
He was this week issued with a letter from the procurator fiscal before a planned court hearing took place.
It stated: “A decision on whether criminal proceedings are appropriate has not yet been taken but I have decided that you do not need to come to Glasgow Sheriff Court on October 7.
“You do not need to appear in court in terms of your undertaking and any additional conditions which you accepted as part of your undertaking will no longer apply from the end of today’s date.”
Palestine Action was added to the UK’s list of proscribed terrorist groups at midnight on July 5 – making it illegal to show any support or affiliation to them.
The ban came into force after some of its members vandalised planes at an RAF base in England.
“I want to reiterate that I am not a member of Palestine Action,” Mr Clerkin said, “but I defend their right to peaceful protest. I do not agree with their tactics, causing criminal damage, but they are not terrorists.
“I once again call for the de-proscription of Palestine Action because they are a legitimate protest organisation. They are not terrorists, they are not violent, they are not going to hurt anyone.
“I call on the UK Labour Government to show some common sense and rescind the ban.”
Mr Clerkin added: “We must not forget; this is about ending genocide, calling for an end to the killing of innocent people in Gaza and the West Bank.
“People all over the world who have never before engaged in politics are engaging in peaceful protest and standing with one another because they are witnessing a genocide going on in front of out eyes, playing out on our television screens. People want to feel that they can do something about that.”
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