British blogger Pete North was arrested for sharing an anti-Hamas meme, raising concerns about police overreach and freedom of expression in the U.K.
Pete North, a 47-year-old blogger from Yorkshire, was detained by North Yorkshire Police for several hours after posting a controversial meme on social media. He was ultimately released without charge.
The incident occurred on September 25, when police arrived at North’s home to inform him that he was being arrested for sharing content that a member of their hate crime team found objectionable. In a video recorded by North, an officer stated he was being detained “on suspicion of publishing or distributing written material intended to stir up racial hatred.”
The meme in question, which North shared on X in August, featured a Palestinian flag alongside the words: “F— Palestine. F— Hamas. F— Islam. Want to protest? F— off to Muslim country and protest.”
North later confirmed to The Telegraph that while the meme contained offensive language, the police seemed particularly focused on the part directed at Hamas. He recounted the officer’s comments during his interview, stating, “Well, firstly, let’s start with the meme. You posted a meme that said f— Hamas.” North responded, affirming that he had indeed posted the meme, citing Hamas as a proscribed terrorist organization recognized internationally, including in the U.K.
During the questioning, North pressed the officer about his knowledge of Hamas and its actions, particularly the atrocities committed on October 7. According to North, the officer appeared unaware of these events, leaving him feeling frustrated. “He was totally oblivious,” North claimed.
After hours of questioning, North was released without any charges being filed. He expressed his belief that the police should not be involved in matters of political expression on social media. “I feel quite strongly that what political cartoons and memes I post on social media is none of the police’s business,” he stated.
North further emphasized that the police’s actions seemed aimed at intimidating individuals like himself into reconsidering their online expressions. “Nobody should be facing police inquiries for posting memes on Twitter,” he added. “The whole point of this exercise is not to win convictions. It’s to terrorize people like me into thinking twice about posting spicy memes.”
North Yorkshire Police confirmed the arrest, stating, “A 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of publishing or distributing written material intended to stir up racial hatred. He has been released under investigation while inquiries continue.” The police department has not yet provided further comments regarding the incident.
This case raises significant questions about the balance between freedom of expression and the enforcement of hate crime laws in the U.K., particularly in the context of rising tensions surrounding political discourse related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
As discussions about hate speech and online expression continue to evolve, the implications of this arrest may resonate beyond North’s individual experience, potentially influencing how similar cases are handled in the future.
Source: Original article