Southall Black Sisters (SBS) stands with Rajiv Menon KC against the unprecedented attempt to prosecute him for contempt of court. We have worked with Rajiv Menon for over three decades. During this time, he has shown great integrity and humility in striving for social justice and against abuses of power. He has been an important supporter of our work and a highly valued advocate for SBS’s Service Users, and indeed all women who have been subjected to violence and abuse, whether that be domestic, sexual, racial, or police violence.
This case can not be separated from the context in which it arose: the genocidal violence that has taken place in Gaza and the continuing struggle to hold states accountable for grave violations of international law. These are not ordinary times. To oppose the British state’s support for Israel’s racialised system of domination against Palestinians, is a core part of our work as an anti-racist organisation campaigning against Britain’s colonial legacy and racist policies. We have joined thousands of people across England for demonstrations against this violence and against the current assault on dissent and on protest. We maintain that there is an important ethical distinction to be made between support for authoritarian projects and emancipatory ones, between terrorist attacks fuelled by hate and non-violent actions that seek to prevent genocidal violence. Our clients know from experience that justice depends on lawyers who are prepared to challenge abuses of power and confront uncomfortable truths.
Rajiv Menon KC’s closing speech in defence of Charlotte Head provided an important context for her actions. In an outstanding speech, he spoke about the independence of the jury and their role as sole judges of the facts.
We call on this current Government to intervene immediately and halt legal proceedings against Rajiv Menon KC. Allowing this prosecution to go ahead will wreck Menon’s career and reputation. Moreover, the proceedings risk creating a precedent with consequences far beyond this individual case and a chilling effect on fearless advocacy, discouraging lawyers from advancing every lawful argument on behalf of their clients.
For the women we support, many of whom are survivors of violence, robust and independent legal representation is not a privilege but a necessity. Their ability to secure justice often depends upon advocates who are willing to challenge abuses of power, expose institutional failings and present difficult or unpopular arguments without fear of personal prosecution. Any precedent that inhibits such advocacy risks weakening our clients’ right to a fair trial and effective representation, particularly for those whose voices are already marginalised. The ultimate consequence would not be borne by lawyers alone, but by those who depend upon fearless advocacy to vindicate their rights and hold the state to account.
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