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The High Court in London has ruled that the UK government’s decision to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws was unlawful.
The case was brought by Huda Ammori, co-founder of the direct action protest group, who challenged the Home Secretary’s decision to proscribe the organisation. The ban, which came into effect on 5 July last year, made membership of or support for Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Palestine Action had been placed on the list of banned organisations alongside extremist groups such as Islamic State, marking the first time a direct action protest group had been proscribed under terrorism legislation. The move sparked widespread criticism from civil rights groups and led to a campaign of civil disobedience, during which more than 2,000 people were arrested.
Part of the High Court hearing was held in private, and proceedings concluded in December. On Friday, a panel of three judges led by Dame Victoria Sharp, president of the King’s Bench Division, ruled that the government’s decision to ban the group was unlawful.
The ruling is expected to have significant implications for protest rights and the use of anti-terror laws against activist organisations in the UK.
