Arrested Over a Cartoon: When Satire Becomes a Terror Offense

A quiet protest in Leeds turned into a surreal nightmare for 67-year-old retired teacher Jon Farley, who was arrested under the UK Terrorism Act—for holding up a Private Eye cartoon.

Yes, you read that right. The satirical cartoon, published in the latest issue of the UK’s iconic magazine, poked fun at the government’s recent decision to ban the activist group Palestine Action. Farley, attending a peaceful demonstration, thought the cartoon summed up the situation with dark wit. The police, however, thought differently.

According to Farley, officers pulled him aside, handcuffed him, and detained him without hesitation, despite him repeatedly explaining that the sign was simply a reproduction from a mainstream magazine — one he had on hand in his bag.

“I clearly wasn’t a threat,” he told The Guardian. “I said, ‘Just let me show you the magazine — this is ridiculous.’ But by that time, I was already in handcuffs and heading into a van.”

Farley was held for six hours, questioned by counter-terrorism officers, and released on bail with conditions that he not attend any Palestine Action events — events he had never participated in. Two days later, police told him no further action would be taken. But when he asked if he could hold up the same cartoon at another protest, the officer simply said: “That’s assessed on a case-by-case basis.”

Ian Hislop: “Mind-boggling”

Private Eye’s longtime editor Ian Hislop called the arrest “mind-boggling.”

Speaking from the magazine’s London office, Hislop said the cartoon was “clearly a joke about government hypocrisy,” not an act of support for terrorism. “It’s critical, yes — but obviously satire. The idea that someone could be arrested for holding it up is extraordinary.”

Adding a pinch of British irony, Hislop also lamented that the arresting officers apparently had never heard of Private Eye: “That might be the most depressing part.”

Protest Rights vs. Policing Powers

The arrest sparked concern among civil rights groups and protestors alike. It follows a string of controversial police interventions at pro-Palestine demonstrations in the UK, where people have reportedly been warned or arrested for waving flags, chanting slogans, or even just showing up.

These incidents reflect a broader tension: how far can anti-terrorism laws be stretched to silence political dissent? And when does policing cross the line into intimidation?

When Satire Is Treated Like a Crime

Cartoons have long served as tools to criticize power. From the French Revolution to the Arab Spring, satire has helped shape political consciousness. But Farley’s experience raises a chilling question: If holding up a cartoon at a protest can get you arrested, what happens to the freedom to laugh at power?

As Farley noted, on the very day he was arrested, 32 Palestinians were shot by the IDF while waiting in line for aid in Gaza — a grim reality the cartoon was referencing. “I thought the cartoon captured that nuance. But I guess nuance doesn’t go far with the police,” he said.

Final Thoughts: Cuffed for Comedy

Though the charges were dropped, Farley walked away with bruises, legal uncertainty, and a deep sense of injustice. His story adds to growing concerns that the UK’s protest laws are eroding basic freedoms—freedoms that once defined British democracy.

Because if you can buy a magazine at a corner shop, but be arrested for quoting it in public, the issue isn’t about terrorism — it’s about control.