U.K. court rules Palestine Action group’s terror ban unlawful
· Toronto Sun
Britain’s High Court ruled that the government’s decision to brand protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was unlawful.
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That said, the ban on the protesters remains pending another hearing as an appeal is expected.
“The nature and scale of Palestine Action’s activities” did not meet the “level, scale and persistence” that would justify proscription, judges Victoria Sharp, Jonathan Swift and Karen Steyn said.
They added that they were “satisfied that the decision to proscribe Palestine Action was disproportionate.”
Palestine Action’s actions
Last June, the government banned the pro-Palestinian group under anti-terrorism laws after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and vandalized two planes.
The group alleged that Britain was continuing to “send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel U.S./Israeli fighter jets,” and condemned the country as “an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East.”
Protesters in support of Palestine Action also clashed with police during a demonstration in central London at the time.
The measure meant it would be a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, with a maximum of 14 years in prison.
About a month later, Palestine Action won a bid to challenge the government’s decision , with co-founder Huda Ammori calling it an attack of free speech.
Since the initial ban, more than 2,700 people have been arrested at protests for holding signs saying “I support Palestine Action,” with another 250 or so being charged under the Terrorism Act.
Reaction to the judges’ ruling
Ammori called the high court’s decision “a monumental victory both for our fundamental freedoms here in Britain and in the struggle for freedom for the Palestinian people, striking down a decision that will forever be remembered as one of the most extreme attacks on free speech in recent British history.”
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “disappointed by the court’s decision and disagree with the notion that banning this terrorist organization is disproportionate.”
She continued: “The proscription does not prevent peaceful protest in support of the Palestinian cause, another point on which the court agrees.”
Mahmood added: “I intend to fight this judgment in the Court of Appeal.”
Since Palestine Action was formed in 2020, the group has broken into facilities owned by Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems UK.
Officials say the group’s actions have caused millions of pounds in damage that affect national security.
However, in their ruling, the judges said that while “a very small number of its actions have amounted to terrorist action … regardless of proscription, the criminal law is available to prosecute those concerned.”
The judges did not officially quash the ban “pending the possibility of an appeal.”
Lawyers for both sides have until Feb. 20 to prepare for that hearing.
In light of the judgment, London’s Metropolitan Police force said its officers would not arrest people expressing support for Palestine Action, but would continue to gather evidence of offences “to provide opportunities for enforcement at a later date.”