UK: New Banksy appears after arrests of pro-Palestinian activists

Bending over a protester on the ground, a menacing judge brandishes his gavel: Banksy unveiled a new stencil on the walls of a London courthouse on Monday, two days after nearly 900 people were arrested at a rally in support of the banned Palestine Action organization.

The graffiti appeared on Monday morning, September 8, on one of the exterior facades of the Royal Courts of Justice, also echoing the debate on freedom of expression in the United Kingdom, rekindled by the recent arrest of a series creator.

Quickly hidden behind fences and guarded by security guards, this stencil shows a judge in the traditional robe and wig raising his gavel over a protester lying on his back, whose blank placard is stained with blood. The artist, whose identity remains a mystery, claimed authorship by posting a photo on his Instagram account.

This Saturday, August 6, 890 people were arrested in London during a demonstration in support of the Palestine Action group, marked by tensions between police and protesters. This organization has been classified as "terrorist" by the government after damage caused to an air force base.

In total, more than 1,600 people have been arrested since July, and 138 have been charged with supporting or inciting support for a "terrorist organization." They are due to face trial, most of whom face six months in prison.

Defend Our Juries, the organization behind the protests, said Monday that Banksy's new work depicted "state brutality against protesters opposing the ban on Palestine Action."

In the UK, the debate on freedom of expression was also rekindled by the arrest on September 1 of Irish series creator Graham Linehan ( Father Ted ) for having disseminated messages against transgender people on social networks.

Nigel Farage, leader of the far-right Reform UK party, expressed outrage at the affair while speaking before the US Congress in Washington, comparing the UK to North Korea.

Banksy is one of the most famous living artists in the world, particularly for his stencils with political and provocative messages that he spreads around the world.