Amnesty International Condemns Prosecution Blocking Ambulance Climate Protesters – Frustrated by it?

Essay by Eric Worrall

h / t Breitbart; In my opinion, Amnesty International has just increased their credibility, by opposing the prosecution of climate protesters who block ambulances.

PRESS – OCTOBER 24, 2022 15:34

Amnesty comments on ruling against climate action on E4

The right to protest is a central building block in every democratic society. Even peaceful acts of civil disobedience, such as climate action on E4, are covered by the right to protest. Amnesty welcomed that the Solna County Court did not follow the prosecutor’s line to sentence the activists to prison. This is the only real thing: peaceful activism must never lead to people being deprived of their freedom. On the other hand, it is worrisome that the court accepts the prosecutor’s argument that a short-term blockade of E4 could constitute vandalism in the sense of the penal code.

Amnesty is deeply concerned that the court’s ruling violates what Sweden’s international law requires. It is impractical to apply the crime of vandalism in this way, and from a rule of law perspective, it is worrying that Swedish courts are beginning to consider the exercise of freedoms and rights as serious crimes without there is no discussion and change in the law. Anna Johansson, Secretary General of Amnesty Sweden, said it was contrary to United Nations practices and recommendations.

In the essence of civil disobedience is that the person who has committed an illegal act stands for what he did and is responsible for it, also legally. This is true as long as the law is properly applied and the punishment is commensurate with the offense. Otherwise, there is no balance between the right to protest and the criminal justice system.

Peaceful civil disobedience is nothing new in Sweden, but the crime of vandalism against this form of peaceful action is new. Today’s ruling in Solna district court, as well as rulings made this year in Södertörn and Stockholm district courts, suggest that practice is about to change – this without further discussion and unlikely. has solid legal analysis on the foundations of a constitutionally protected right to freedom of demonstration.

This shift in judicial authority assessments must end. Law enforcement must be based on respect for the constitutionally protected right to freedom of expression and Sweden’s obligations under international law, said Anna Johansson.

Climate change is a reality that requires countries to act with determination. The UN has clearly emphasized that rapid and equitable climate change is an obligation on states under international law. Both in Sweden and elsewhere in the world, activists use civil disobedience to protest against states’ lack of action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of assembly and demonstration has drawn particular attention to the importance of the right to protest, especially during climate emergencies, which we recognize for ourselves – which This also includes civil disobedience and road blockades.

The United Nations Climate Commission, IPCC, in a comment on the reluctance of countries to take climate disasters seriously, expressed that “civil society is to a large extent a force to be reckoned with. only to get institutions to change at the necessary rate”. Therefore, the Court should pay more attention to these statements and recommendations under international law and analyze the fact that Sweden has so far failed to do what is required to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. and therefore fail to comply with its obligations under international law. It was this state of emergency and the state’s inaction that activists responded to, which the court should have taken into account and influenced the court’s assessment of the action on the street. The principle of consistent interpretation – that is, Swedish law must be interpreted in light of Sweden’s international obligations – was conspicuous by its absence in the decision. Thus, in its argument about permissible limitations on the right to protest, the court completely failed to refer to the international legal framework and the statements of UN experts, which is very regrettable. and led to incorrect conclusions, according to Amnesty.

Failure to understand these manifestations of climate in terms of the right to expression leads to a potentially dangerous and anti-democratic path where constitutional rights are at stake. We assume that the ruling will be appealed and that the higher court considers Sweden’s commitments under international law and protects both basic freedom of expression and related Swedish obligations. climate emergency in its assessment. Amnesty will follow this case closely and continue to defend the right to peacefully protest and protest, Anna Johansson said.

Amnesty International is an independent international organization working to ensure that human rights apply to all, now and in the future. By exposing violations and creating attention and publicity, we put pressure on governments and people in power around the world.

Source: https://www.amnesty.se/press-och-media/#/pressreleases/amnesty-kommenterar-domen-mot-klimataktionen-paa-e4-an-3213103 (Translated from Swedish using Google Translate)

I think over the years Amnesty has done a lot of good. If you attend one of their letter signing events, as I said, they will show attendees a lot of examples of autocratic agents who are tired of receiving sacks. filled with mail, and finally released whatever misery they were tormenting.

But assisting people to block ambulances is a mistake.

Wake up Amnesty. All decent people support the right to protest, but that right to protest is your right to present your message, not the right to force your message down someone else’s throat. That right to protest is not the right to imprison people whose traffic is blocked, unable to get out. And that right to protest certainly shouldn’t protect those who sabotage care for the critically ill or create life-threatening traffic chaos. lead to death.