Human rights lawyer detained at Liverpool airport for opposing genocide

UK ‘counter-terror’ police have detained distinguished US human rights professor and international law expert, Dan Kovalik, at Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport.

Kovalik, a well-known author and activist, said on X that he had been grilled about his opposition to Israel’s Gaza genocide and to the illegal war on Iran.

In the height of irony, I was detained at John Lennon International AirPort in Liverpool, England by anti-terrorism police concerned about my opposition to the Genocide on Gaza and the war on Iran. They seized my phone, computer, fingerprints and DNA sample. More to come . . . pic.twitter.com/WOtXQLjjO2

— Dan Kovalik (@danielmkovalik) June 29, 2026

Human rights threatened under authoritarian war on speech

The Starmer regime extensively abuses anti-terror laws to detain — not arrest — journalists, activists and others who speak out against Israel’s crimes and the UK’s collaboration. By avoiding arrest and seizing victims at ports or airports, the state denies the detainee access to lawyers and the right to silence.

Refusal to disclose passwords is punishable by two years in jail. Devices are routinely seized, as in Kovalik’s case.

All these abuses are perpetrated by a regime seeking to protect Israel from scrutiny and criticism, despite wholesale condemnation from the UN, human rights groups and international law experts. None have so far been charged, but multiple UK journalists and authors have been targeted.

One journalist, Asa Winstanley, refused to disclose passwords to protect sources, but he was raided at home where protections are greater. Winstanley has not, so far, been prosecuted. A court ruled the seizure of his devices unlawful.

Liverpool stands with Kovalik

Scousers reacted furiously to the war on free speech on their ‘patch’ and were quick to express solidarity with Kovalik against the shameful detention.

Apologies@danielmkovalik
The people of #Liverpool have a proud tradition of welcoming our guests, unlike our government and security services who should frankly be prosecuted for not preventing a genocide. Hope the rest of your stay is filled with peace and love.

— Liverpool Riverside Left (@LivRivLeft) June 30, 2026

National Security (State Threats) Bill

Not satisfied with abusing anti-terror laws to wage war on UK rights for Israel, the Starmer regime is ramming through further legislation allowing it to quickly designate any group it doesn’t like as ‘terrorist’.

Starmer is pushing the National Security (State Threats) Bill through Parliament in a single day without scrutiny. The bill puts the onus on its victims to prove they didn’t know a group the government later ‘designates’ was going to be banned.

Using information is included as a crime and there are no protections, even for journalists, who quote facts obtained from sources the UK government dislikes.

Craig Murray, himself a victim of an airport detention, pointed this out:

New Labour is rushing its new National Security State Threats bill through parliament in just one day.

It will be illegal to publish TRUE casualty information from Iran, from Hamas-run hospitals in Gaza, or IDF assault details from the resistance in Lebanon.

14 years in jail.

— Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) June 29, 2026

Britain is an authoritarian terror state. Shamefully, presumptive new PM, Andy Burnham, has given no indication he intends to end this reign of state terror. In fact, Burnham has accepted funds from the director of an arms firm involved in the genocide.

Featured image via AFPTV TEAMS/AFP via Getty Images