Journalist unions 'concerned' over Richard Medhurst UK arrest on anti-terrorism charges

The largest global union of journalists has joined its UJ affiliate to condemn the arrest of British writer Richard Medhurst and the use of anti-terror legislation against journalists.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which represents over 600,000 media workers in 146 countries, joined the UK and Ireland's National Union of Journalists (NUJ), expressing "grave concern about an apparent crackdown on both [pro-Palestine] journalists and activists".

In comments to The New Arab, the NUJ and the IFJ stressed the seriousness of Medhurst's arrest in a joint statement, saying it was a "significant incident in terms of media freedom".

"The IFJ and the NUJ are shocked at the apparent crackdown on both journalists and activists using terrorism legislation and urge the government to ensure powers are used proportionately," the statement said.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary and Anthony Bellanger, IFJ general secretary, said the arrest "will likely have a chilling effect on journalists in the UK and worldwide, in fear of arrest by UK authorities simply for carrying out their work".

The secretaries added that the "powers contained in anti-terror legislation must be deployed proportionately – not wielded against journalists in ways that inevitably stifle press freedom".

They noted they would continue to monitor the case and urge clarity on the nature of the ongoing investigation.

Medhurst was detained in August at London's Heathrow Airport under the UK's Terrorism Act 2000, allegedly over his reportage about the war on Gaza.

His phone and recording devices, described by the IFJ as "essential journalistic equipment", were seized and he was offered no legal support until he questioned the officers about this.

Medhurst, who has previously covered Western foreign policy on the Middle East - and has been accused of taking a pro-Russian, pro-Assad line - revealed on X that six police officers were waiting for him at the entrance of the plane. He says he was held for almost 24 hours, questioned and searched twice in 10 minutes.

"I believe I'm the first journalist to be arrested under this provision of the Terrorism Act," Medhurst wrote.

"I feel that this is a political persecution and hampers my ability to work as a journalist."

Medhurst has been vocal against Israel's indiscriminate war on the Gaza Strip, which has utterly devastated the territory and killed over 40,000 people.

He recently shared a video saying that those who are speaking up and reporting on Gaza were being targeted.

But earlier this year he also took to social media platform X to attack Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib after she drew attention to Bashar Al-Assad's atrocities in the Syrian conflict, which has killed over half a million people.

Medhurst, who was born in Damascus, also welcomed Assad's presidential election 'win' in 2021, which was widely derided as a "sham" by the Syrian opposition, the international community, and human rights groups.