Why it matters:
The arrest comes as the U.K. took a supportive stance toward Palestine in the UN General Assembly in recognition of the Palestinian statehood.
The big picture:
Galloway and his wife, who had traveled to Tehran in May 2025 to attend the Sobh Festival, have on several occasions been targeted with criticism and even arrest in the U.K. over their pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist positions.
The leader of the Workers Party of Britain and former Member of Parliament, was detained along with his wife, Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, by counter-terrorism officers at Gatwick Airport on Saturday. The couple had arrived in London from Moscow, with a layover in Abu Dhabi.
What we're hearing:
According to a police spokesperson, the detention was carried out under Schedule 3 of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, which grants authorities the power to stop, question, search, and detain individuals at border areas to assess potential involvement in hostile activity.
The Workers Party of Britain condemned the action as “politically motivated intimidation” and called for Galloway’s immediate release. Both he and his wife were later released without charge.
George Galloway:
Known for fiery oratory, Galloway has been a vocal critic of Israel, the U.S., and UK foreign policy. He has faced accusations of anti-Semitism, which he denies, insisting his criticism is of Zionism.
His support for Palestinian causes has made him a hero to Palestine supporters and a pariah to the U.S.-backed Israeli regime and allies.
Galloway has participated in pro-Palestine rallies, debated Israeli officials (e.g., famously walking out of a 2013 Oxford Union debate upon learning his opponent was Israeli), and used social media to highlight Palestinian suffering.
He links the Resistance to global struggles against “Western imperialism,” drawing parallels to his opposition to the U.S. war on Iraq and Afghanistan.
Zoom in:
- Early Activism (1980s-1990s): As a young MP, Galloway supported Palestinian causes during the First Intifada and met Yasser Arafat.
- Post-9/11 Era (2000s): His expulsion from Labour came after criticizing Tony Blair’s Iraq policy; he then focused on anti-war coalitions, including pro-Palestine ones.
- 2010s-2020s: Victories in Muslim-majority U.K. constituencies were fueled by his Palestine stance. The 2023-2025 Israeli war on Gaza revitalized his profile, leading to his 2024 electoral win where he declared: “This is for Gaza.”
- Consistency: Despite party shifts, Galloway’s core views have not wavered, though he has moderated some rhetoric to avoid legal issues (e.g., emphasizing anti-Zionism over blanket statements).
The bottom line:
Repeatedly condemned the Zionist regime’s apartheid policies and genocidal actions in Gaza, advocating for the liberation of all Palestinian lands and the right of armed resistance, and highlighting Iran's role in defending the Resistance and Palestine seems to be the charge, doesn't it?
seyed mohammad kazemi - H.Hakimzadeh
