‘Tool of oppression’: Rising number of UK pro-Palestine voices debanked

The mother of a Palestine Action prisoner has said she was refused a mortgage due to “adverse media”, as more pro-Palestine voices in the United Kingdom are opening up about their experiences of “debanking”.Emma Kamio, a small business owner in south Wales, was denied a remortgage with Lloyds on her commercial properties in April due to “adverse media.”Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Suffragettes to Palestine Action: A history of direct-action protest in UKlist 2 of 3In Britain, resisting a genocide is now treated as terrorismlist 3 of 3Pro-Palestine protesters rally for ‘Filton 25’ activists at UK courtend of listThe decision “devastated” her, she told Al Jazeera. “It has put me in a difficult position, one where I have relinquished my responsibilities [in the family business] and let my sister pick up the slack.”Despite the setback, she said business was no longer central in her life.“I’ve got one goal and that’s to get my girl out of prison,” she said.Her daughter Leona “Ellie” Kamio has also been affected. In February 2025, while the 30-year-old nursery teacher was held on remand awaiting trial, Kamio was debanked by Lloyds Bank – meaning the financial institution...