The UN special rapporteur, Michel Forst, criticized the lengthy prison sentences given to Just Stop Oil activists in the UK for planning non-violent protests on the M25, labeling them as punitive and repressive. Environmental and human rights groups condemned the sentences, while academics warned that harsh punishments could backfire by encouraging more activism. On the other hand, some argue that the protesters' actions were coercive, not just peaceful, and that the sentences were justified. The UK government declined to intervene, emphasizing the independence of the judiciary in sentencing matters, despite calls for leniency and concerns about the impact on the right to protest.