Filton 4 will be sentenced as terrorists in “grotesque” abuse of power

Filton 25

A judge has told four ‘Filton 25’ anti-genocide activists, at Woolwich Crown Court today, 12 June 2026, that they will be sentenced as terrorists. The four had been tried for no terrorism offences and were formally acquitted of any violent intent. Former security services lawyer-turned-judge Jeremy Johnson refused to recuse himself from the case despite his obvious conflicts of interest. Johnson had banned lawyers and the press from informing the jury that they could acquit — and that the defendants were going to be sentenced under terror laws if convicted.

This decision will mean much longer prison time and draconian conditions imposed on the young activists for decades even after release. These could include having to register their phones with the authorities, report on any relationships and obtain permission to travel. Johnson claimed his decision was, in part, because the actionists had worn red jumpsuits and some employees of the Israeli death factory would have been upset by the action against their workplace.

Hundreds of lawyers, academics and others had warned that the sentencing plan would be a gross injustice with no lawful basis, but Johnson has gone ahead anyway. Human rights group Amnesty International has condemned Johnson and the government for the “grossly disproportionate” punishment, saying:

Amnesty opposes the use of terrorism powers in this case.

It is completely disproportionate to punish protesters for criminal damage as if they were terrorists, a sentence which stays with you for life.
The defendants in today’s case were sentenced as terrorists because prosecutors want to make an example of them.

Today’s decision shows how direct action protesters could be treated in the future. The use of terrorism laws against direct action protesters must end.

Together we must continue calling out the abuse of power and fighting for our right to protest.

Filton 25 — Heartbreaking and grotesque

The Good Law Project described Johnson’s decision as “grotesque”:

This grotesque distortion of the law tightens the screws on the public’s right to protest, placing more limits on our freedom to fight injustice.

The ‘Defend our Juries’ group called it “heartbreaking”:

BREAKING: Judge Johnson has confirmed the Filton Four will be sentenced based on a ‘terrorist connection’.

This heart breaking news comes despite the protestors never being charged or convicted of terror offences or violent intent. pic.twitter.com/SB1Sbse2ej

— Defend Our Juries (@DefendOurJuries) June 12, 2026