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CPS drops action against Jewish woman in ‘bloody hands’ protest
CHARGES have been dropped against a Jewish woman who used red food colouring as part of a “bloody hands” protest against the Israeli government during a march through central London.
Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, 56, was due at City of London Magistrates’ Court last week, but the Crown Prosecution Service admitted there was insufficient evidence, abandoning the case just hours before she was to appear.
The primary school teacher from Woodford Green is now considering suing the police for wrongful arrest, following an incident last June, where she unveiled a
T-shirt with the slogan “Palestinian blood on Israeli hands” before thrusting her “bloody” hands up in the air.
Ms Wimborne-Idrissi, has hailed the decision as a victory and said: “I feel completely vindicated. This date has been looming over me for nine months.
“To me the most important thing is to protect the right to freedom of expression and speech. And that has been seen here.”
The activist was one of hundreds of protesters from the Jews for Justice for Palestinians group, who attended the Salute to Israel Parade on Sunday June 29 which was intended to mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of Israel.
After stationing herself behind the barriers along Haymarket Ms Wimborne-Idrissi waited until a float from the United Jewish Israel Appeal passed by before springing her eye-catching action.
She claimed a number of supporters from the group pounced on her, wrestling the bottle of dye from her before it spilled over an Israeli flag.
Following the fracas, police arrested her and charged her with a public order offence for causing harassment and distress. She was one of eight protesters arrested on the day.
“I took off my dress to reveal the T-shirt and put the red dye on my hands and held them up in the air. I didn’t say anything,” she said.
“Obviously it worked because I got their attention. One man tried to smother the protest and the dye spilled on the flag he was holding. I remember saying ‘red blood on an Israeli flag, that’s appropriate’.”
Simon Natas, representing Ms Wimborne-Idrissi, said his client’s action had been “entirely peaceful and legitimate”. |
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