Craig Murray, a former British ambassador to Uzbekistan (file photo)
A former British diplomat and human rights activist has been detained under the countrys counterterrorism laws after declaring support for the people of Palestine and criticizing Israels atrocities against them.
Craig Murray was detained on Monday under the UKs so-called Prevention of Terrorism Act after he returned from a trip to Iceland.
Before his arrest, he had taken part in a pro-Palestinian protest outside Icelands parliament building.
In another X post on Sunday, Murray had clearly indicated his support for Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement.
"...in the coming Gaza genocide, every act of armed resistance by Hamas and Hezbollah will have my support. If that is a crime, send me back to jail," he said.
On the same day, Murray reposted an earlier X post by Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, calling on the world body to intervene for an immediate ceasefire in Israels ongoing bloody war against the Gaza Strip and saying, "Under intl law, atrocity crimes must not only be punished but also prevented."
His detention came amid an all-out war waged by the Israeli regime against the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 2,800 Palestinians and injured close to 11,000 others.
The war was waged after an operation by Gazas resistance groups that has so far left some 1,200 Israeli forces and illegal settlers dead and close to 200 others captive. The resistance factions launched the operation in response to the Israeli regimes decades-long campaign of bloodshed and destruction against Palestinians.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said those supporting Hamas following the operation would be "held to account," vowing support for the Israeli regime and pledging readiness on the part of London to provide Tel Aviv with military assistance.
Upon arresting Murray, British authorities seized his phone and other electronic devices. He was also questioned about attending a pro-Palestinian protest outside the Icelandic parliament.
A former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan, Murray was sacked by the countrys Foreign Office for criticizing the host countrys human rights record as well as vehemently opposing the United States administrations extraordinary rendition program, which involved torturing terrorism suspects.
Following his sacking from the British diplomatic service, Murray embraced journalism and human rights activism and established his own blog to publish his views and findings.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/27804
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