What happened: Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, a peaceful grassroots group, had its bank account frozen by Virgin Money due to an investigation linked to Palestine Action, a separate direct action group banned under the Terrorism Act. The account remains blocked despite no affiliation between the two groups.
Why it matters:
- The freezing of funds disrupts the activities of a non-violent organisation.
- It raises concerns about the impact of anti-terrorism measures on unrelated groups.
MNN Take: Banks may take precautionary actions during investigations, but this case highlights the challenges in distinguishing between separate organisations with similar causes.
Sources: Guardian UK