Group claims women arrested at Gaza protest were strip searched by gardaí

By Cate McCurry, PA

The Mothers Against Genocide group said it will file a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission over allegations that some of the women who were arrested at a group protest were strip-searched and one was subjected to a cavity search.

A total of 14 people who attended the Mothers Against Genocide group protest against the Israeli war in Gaza were arrested after an entrance to Leinster House in Dublin was blocked on Monday morning.

The group has alleged that its members were subjected to “disproportionate and outdated practices” by gardaí.

Amnesty International has written to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris over the response to the demonstration, saying the forcible removal of participants could have a chilling effect on the right to protest in Ireland.

The Dáil heard that a Palestinian woman, who took part in a protest, was stripped naked and subjected to a “disgusting” cavity search.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said that the protest “descended to the strip searching” of peaceful female protesters.

“The group Mothers Against Genocide, on a Mother’s Day protest to show solidarity with women and children in Palestine, in Lebanon, and so on, who have been slaughtered over the last 18 months, had a peaceful sit-down protest,” he told the Dáil.

“They are arrested very, very violently in some cases, including Palestinian and Lebanese people who have actually suffered the horrors of the last 18 months, and some then are strip searched.”

He then read out a message from one of the arrested women.

“To read you one description – ‘I was stripped completely naked, and was asked to remove my underwear. When I questioned the necessity of this, I was told I would be forced violently if I didn’t comply, and that they didn’t want any trouble. After removing my underwear, they looked inside my private areas and touched all my sensitive parts.”

Mr Barrett added: “It is absolutely disgusting. These were peaceful women protesters on a Mother’s Day protest.

“Now, do you condone that kind of treatment of people who were a threat to nobody? There’s certainly not a threat. It’s absolutely outrageous behaviour. Do you condemn that? And is that where we’re heading? Is that the sort of society, Taoiseach, we’re heading (towards)?

“They were protesting about our continued complicity with the genocide because of US troops in Shannon, Israeli war bonds being sold and a failure to impose sanctions on Israel.”

 

Guidance on carrying out strip searches by gardaí states that where possible, a doctor should carry out a strip search in a garda station and that a strip search should only be carried out if it is necessary, and not in a way that would be harassment.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said the mothers were also protesting in support of the Occupied Territories Bill.

“They were protesting to stop weapons going through Irish airspace, which continues, which is increasing, which you’ve refused to do anything about. Hopefully, you support the arms embargo bill coming up in the Seanad tomorrow,” Mr Murphy added.

“They’re protesting against complicity in the genocide, the slaughter that is taking place in Gaza. And how were they treated? They were forcibly removed by the gardai. 14 were arrested, and then, like Richard has just said, what is coming out about how they were treated in the garda stations is absolutely horrific

“To quote the same person that Richard did. She’s a Palestinian woman. Richard has spoken about how she was forced to remove her underwear, her private parts were touched and looked inside of, and subjected to a cavity search.

“She says, ‘After the procedures were completed, I was released with a warning that if I participated in any further events, I would be punished and that this was my only chance’.

“What sort of repressive state is this that is operating in such a way? This needs immediate condemnation from the gardai, and we need to be assured that people have the right to protest without being treated in such a way.”

The allegations were also condemned by Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú who called on the Taoiseach to look into the allegations.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he would follow up on the allegations with the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan.

Mr Martin added: “There’s absolutely no issue with protest, none whatsoever. My understanding is… a number of protesters were blocking the entrance to the Dáil.

“Why does that have to happen? You can protest on the left-hand side (of Leinster House), you can protest on the right-hand side. You can protest across the road.

“I will follow up with the Minister of Justice in terms of the assertions and the allegations that have been made today in the House.

“I don’t have any background to that, but I will follow that up because I would not understand the necessity for any strip-searching or whatever.”

An Garda Síochána has been contacted for comment.