BBC News, Yorkshire
John FarleyA person arrested under the Terrorism Act to carry a print-out of a private eye cartoon at the Palestinian solidarity rally has said that he is “worried” about the implications of the incident for freedom of speech.
67 -year -old John Farley was held by the police on Saturday for about six hours after being detained in a demonstration at Leeds. He was granted bail and was told on Monday that he would not take any further action.
Retired head teacher Mr. Farley was carrying a placard printing a cartoon about the government’s prosecution about the action of Palestine, which appeared in a satirical magazine.
The West Yorkshire police said it would consider any “learning” from the incident, which was previously reported by the Guardian.
Mr. Farley told the BBC officials that “a bine” was made for him as the silent performance passed through the Kirkgate Market and handcuffed him before being taken to the Elnd Road Police Station.
It is being told that he was being arrested under the Terrorism Act due to placard, he said that he offered the police to show the original cartoon from a copy of the private eye in his backpack, but the officials refused.
Cartoon commented Ban on Palestine’s action Last month, two RAF aircraft were sprayed with red paint, exposing it with the killings of citizens seeking assistance by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Mr. Farley, from Leeds, said: “I could not believe that it was happening.
“They took me to the van and the way I am saying, ‘This is a cartoon with private eyes. It’s duff’.”
Mr. Farley described the experience as “unhappy” as one and that he was close to tears while being questioned by anti-terrorism authorities.
Sam Johnson“The interview was just absurd,” he said.
“I just thought, these are anti-terrorism officers. Surely you are looking at me and knowing that I am not a threat to anyone.”
The West Yorkshire police said a 67 -year -old man was arrested on suspicion of demonstrating support for a prosecuting organization, but a review found that the alleged crime was “not out”.
A spokesperson said: “We are sorry that the man involved in this is unhappy with the circumstances of this arrest.
“As it is a new accused organization, West Yorkshire Police is considering any person or organizational learning from the incident.”
‘it worries me’
Mr. Farley said that he would like “proper apology” with force.
He said, “He found it wrong and I would really like to see if they would learn from it.”
“They made a mistake and everyone makes mistakes, but it felt like ‘first action, think -thinking’.
“If I was a danger or it seemed that I was going to harm someone, (I would understand).
“It worries me. Obviously people have to follow the law and I was, but we have to discuss and question things.
“The government is not always right?”
Mr. Farley said that he was planning to attend a Palestinian solidarity march in Leeds later this week and was grateful to many messages of support received to him.
He also said that he felt “Vandit” by personal eye editor Ian Hisalope, which Told the guardian The arrest was “Ludikris”.
“It was amazing to read that because he is in a state of influence and I have always received a huge amount of respect for him,” said Mr. Farley.
“It was a relief, clearly, to see someone talking about general knowledge about it.”
