UK Court Rules Palestine Action Ban Unlawful; Government to Appeal

The High Court has ruled that the Home Office’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation was unlawful. But for now, the group remains banned to allow for further legal argument and for the government to consider an appeal. In a ruling that stunned many observers, three senior judges said that while Palestine Action uses criminal means to push its aims, its activities had not crossed the very high bar required to label it a terrorist organisation.

Home Secretary said the proscription followed a rigorous, evidence-based decision-making process endorsed by Parliament, and she indicated the government would appeal the judgment. She was disappointed by the court’s decision, adding that the ruling would not change the fact that expressing support for Palestine Action or taking part in its activities remains a serious criminal offence while the ban stands.

Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori celebrated the decision as a monumental victory for freedom of expression in Britain and for the Palestinian cause, calling the Home Office move an extreme attack on free speech in recent British history. The government faces fresh questions about how anti-terrorism laws are applied, and thousands of people have been arrested since the ban took effect last July, according to activists.

The court’s decision places the onus back on Parliament and the Home Office to reassess whether the ban is proportionate and necessary in light of free-speech rights. Police officials indicated there would be no immediate shift in enforcement against people who express support for Palestine Action, but the legal status of those actions remains fraught as the government considers its appeal and potential further legal challenges.

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