German Climate Activist Triumphs in Deportation Battle
In a significant ruling, a climate activist who received one of the longest prison sentences for peaceful protest in modern British history has won his appeal against deportation. Marcus Decker, a 36-year-old German national, faced being removed from the UK after an automatic deportation order was served while he was incarcerated.
The Protest and Its Consequences
The case stemmed from an event in October 2022, when Decker climbed the Queen Elizabeth Bridge at the Dartford Crossing and unveiled a Just Stop Oil banner. For this act of protest, he was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison. He was released in February last year after serving 16 months.
His legal team successfully argued that deportation would be a disproportionate measure, violating his right to family life with his partner and stepchildren. They also contended it would have a chilling effect on legitimate protest, particularly during an escalating climate crisis.
Immediate Victory and Widespread Support
In a surprising turn at Monday's hearing at the immigration tribunal in London, the judge announced the decision immediately, allowing the appeal instead of reserving judgement for a later date. Outside the court, hundreds of people gathered to show their support for Decker.
Decker expressed profound relief, calling the outcome a "huge victory for the climate movement and for the laws protecting peaceful protest in this country as a whole." He noted that the judge's immediate announcement was a "chink of hope in an environment of repression."
The appeal garnered remarkable support from a diverse coalition, including 22 Nobel prize laureates, 562 actors, musicians, and artists, and climate experts. The UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders, Michel Forst, submitted a detailed 10-page letter opposing the deportation. Notable figures like former cabinet minister Lord Hain, former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, and actor Juliet Stevenson also publicly backed his case.
A Precedent Avoided
Had the appeal failed, Decker would have become the first person deported from the UK for peaceful protest. His case highlights the complex intersection of immigration law and the right to protest. The Home Office has been approached for comment on the tribunal's decision.
