CPS Drops Assault Charge Against Mark Birbeck at 11th Hour

PRESS RELEASE: On Monday, October 27th, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) notified our solicitors that they would be 'discontinuing' their case against Mark Birbeck, which had been due to be heard at City Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, October 29th.

Mark — a non-Jewish campaigner against anti-Semitism — was accused of assaulting two police officers whilst being handcuffed. The incident happened in September 2024, when he and Niyak Ghorbani held a placard saying 'Hamas is a terrorist organisation' in front of a Palestine Solidarity Campaign march.

Mark Birbeck said of the police and CPS actions:

Over the two years since Our Fight was established to campaign against anti-Semitism, I have been arrested three times in the UK. Once for holding a sign that said 'Hamas are terrorists', once while being surrounded and abused by Palestine Action supporters, and once for a placard that said 'We stand with Britain's Jews'.

It is difficult to come to any conclusion other than that the police are more concerned to appease anti-Israel activists, than they are to respect our democratic rights.

If it were not for CAA support our non-Jewish voice of solidarity would have been silenced. CAA have consistently stood with both myself and Niyak, providing advice as well as funding an excellent legal team.

If you would like to help support our legal costs, then please donate directly to CAA:

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Details of all three incidents are below.

September 7th, 2024: "Hamas Are Terrorists"

On Saturday, September 7th, 2024, Mark Birbeck and Niyak Ghorbani stood in front of a Palestine Solidarity Campaign march with a large placard saying 'Hamas are Terrorists'. With no warning or threat of arrest, the police pushed Mark and Niyak to the side of the road, and then arrested them for a breach of the peace. Whilst in custody, they were both arrested again, each accused of assaulting two police officers.

Mark and Niyak were held overnight and then released with draconian bail conditions — which were later successfully challenged by the legal team provided by CAA.

Niyak's case was eventually heard in August 2025 — 11 months after the original incident — and he was found not guilty. Video evidence clearly showed there was no assault, contradicting police testimony which was given in the court.

Mark's case was dropped in October 2025, just 36 hours before it was due to be heard in court, and nearly 14 months after the incident. During this period the police repeatedly failed to hand over important video footage which had been requested by the defence, despite court instructions to do so.

September 6th, 2025: Palestine Action Mass Arrest

During the Palestine Action 'mass arrest' event in Parliament Square, on Saturday, September 6th, Mark Birbeck was live-streaming. After he was recognised by anti-Israel campaigners, they began chanting that he was a 'Zionist' and 'not welcome'. The police intervened — but arrested Mark. He was de-arrested after a few hours.

October 11th, 2025: "We Stand With Britain's Jews"

On Saturday, October 11th, whilst a Palestine Solidarity Campaign march was forming up, Mark Birbeck and a number of Our Fight activists held signs that said 'We stand with Britain's Jews'. This was just a few days after the anniversary of October 7th, and just over a week after the terrorist murders of two Jews at a Manchester synagogue. Although the message should not have been controversial, Our Fight's campaigners were pushed by march stewards and the police, and then Mark was arrested and detained for 12 hours.

Counter-protesters arrested at pro-Palestinian march in London

Thousands mass in the capital in support of Gaza despite the ceasefire, challenged by a banner denouncing ‘intifada against Jews’

The TimesDipesh Gadher, Home Affairs Correspondent

Police arrest marchers for placard with ‘we stand with Britain’s Jews’

Police have arrested pro-Israel supporters who were holding placards which read ‘we stand with Britain’s Jews’, while elsewhere pro-Palestine protesters were filmed chanting ‘death to the IDF’.

Daily MailElizabeth Haigh

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