Marcus Decker, a German climate activist who served 16 months in prison for climbing the Queen Elizabeth Bridge over the Dartford Crossing and unveiling a Just Stop Oil banner in October 2022, is appealing against his deportation from the UK. He describes the Home Office's decision as a 'crazy double punishment' after having already served one of the longest sentences for peaceful protest in modern British history.
Released from prison in February 2024, Decker remains subject to an ankle tag and must report fortnightly to the Home Office. His legal challenge, heard at a tribunal in central London on Monday, has garnered support from climate experts, religious leaders, celebrities, and members of the public. He claims he would be the first person deported for peaceful protest in the UK.
Decker, a teacher and musician, says the punishment overlooks the broader climate crisis that motivated his action. 'Whole countries are either on fire, or a third of Pakistan was under water that year,' he said, referencing the 2022 floods and record heat in London. He acknowledged the disruption caused to travellers but argued that escalating crises require different approaches to effect change.
Support for Decker includes a letter from UN special rapporteur Michel Forst, a petition signed by 22 Nobel laureates, and backing from 562 artists. Former cabinet minister Lord Hain described the deportation as 'unnecessarily punitive,' while former government chief scientist Sir David King deemed the protest a 'reasonable and proportionate response' to the climate emergency. Actor Juliet Stevenson and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams also expressed concern over the potential impact on Decker's family and the message sent to environmental activists.
The tribunal's decision is expected at a later date. The Home Office has been approached for comment.
