Justice to Zionism
Arrested! Anti-Israel George Galloway Stopped by Counter-Terror Police at Gatwick
Former British MP George Galloway and his wife were detained at Gatwick Airport by counter-terrorism police following their return from Moscow via Abu Dhabi. Learn what happened.
Controversial former British Member of Parliament George Galloway and his wife, Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, were detained by counter-terrorism police at Gatwick Airport on Saturday, following a return flight from Moscow via Abu Dhabi. The detention, conducted under anti-terror legislation, marks a sharp escalation in scrutiny over Galloway's recent, highly-publicized tour of anti-Western capitals.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the pair were stopped under Schedule 3 of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 but were subsequently released without charge after several hours of questioning.
Political Firestorm Erupts Over Detention
Galloway's party, the Workers Party of Britain, quickly denounced the 70-year-old's detention as "politically motivated intimidation," claiming police offered no information about the charges or specific offenses being investigated.
The detention follows a controversial spring itinerary that drew heavy criticism from across the political spectrum:
In May, Galloway traveled to Iran where he accepted the "Martyr Ismail Haniyeh award" at a state media festival, citing his "outspoken defense of Palestine." In his acceptance speech, Galloway claimed he held the personal passport of the late Hamas leader, Haniyeh, as one of his "most treasured possessions."
At the time, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the trip, calling Galloway's behavior "appalling." Philp stated that Galloway's admiration for a senior member of a banned terrorist organization and his travel to a state hostile to the West was "despicable."
Following the Iran visit, Galloway traveled to Moscow for Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day parade, posting images from Red Square and describing the Russian military display as "moving, emotional, inspiring, humbling."
History of Antisemitism and Controversy
Galloway maintains a long, contentious record regarding Israel and the Jewish community. In 2014, he drew a criminal caution from West Yorkshire Police for inciting racial hatred after declaring his constituency of Bradford an "Israel-free zone." He has called Zionism a "blasphemy against Judaism and against God" and was dismissed from TalkRadio in 2019 following antisemitic comments.