In a significant legal battle, lawyers representing Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian protest group recently outlawed by the British government, appeared before the High Court on Wednesday to contest its classification as a terrorist organization. The group, which has been likened to entities such as al-Qaida and Hamas, argues that the government’s decision was flawed and unjust. Raza Husain, representing Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori, criticized the ban as an “ill-considered, discriminatory, and authoritarian abuse of statutory power,” emphasizing the lack of due process in the decision. The government’s proscription followed an incident in June where activists breached a Royal Air Force base, causing damage to military equipment in protest of British support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Since its inception in 2020, Palestine Action has targeted military and industrial sites, including facilities owned by Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems UK, resulting in millions of pounds in damages. The ban criminalizes membership or support for the group, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison. Over 2,000 individuals have been arrested across the UK for expressing support, with more than 130 charged under the Terrorism Act. Supporters and civil liberties groups argue that these arrests infringe on free speech and the right to protest. Husain highlighted the historical importance of civil disobedience, drawing parallels to the suffragette movement, and warned of the chilling effect on democratic dissent.
Protest group Palestine Action goes to court to challenge its ban by the UK government
