UK Home Office prepares Court of Appeal challenge over Palestine Action terror ban
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood leads the case as the ban remains in force during the appeal process
The United Kingdom Home Office is preparing to appeal a High Court ruling that declared the government's proscription of the activist group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation unlawful. Top judges previously described the ban as disproportionate, yet the state intends to challenge this judicial assessment in the Court of Appeal. The hearing is scheduled to commence in London on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in the legal battle between the government and the direct-action network.
Despite the High Court decision, the ban on Palestine Action remains in place throughout the appeals process. Consequently, supporting the group continues to be illegal under current legislation. This legal limbo has persisted since the group was banned last summer, a period during which thousands of Britons have participated in coordinated campaigns of civil disobedience. More than 2,700 people have been arrested under terror laws for actions ranging from holding signs to engaging in protests that the state deems supportive of the organisation.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is leading the government's case against the group, though she has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the upcoming appeal. The activists, whose stated mission is to target companies associated with the Israeli military, were founded in 2020 by Huda Ammori and Richard Barnard. Their activities have drawn sharp criticism from rights groups, with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemning the ban as an overreach that blurs the line between activism and terrorism.
The legal uncertainty surrounding the group's status has created a volatile environment for those involved. Earlier this month, more than 200 protesters were arrested in central London, and an open letter of support signed by figures including Sally Rooney, Greta Thunberg, and Ilan Pappe carries a risk of arrest for those involved. Remand prisoners and activists on bail have alleged human rights violations due to their association with the group, claims that the Ministry of Justice has denied.
It remains unclear when the Court of Appeal will hand down its judgment, leaving the fate of those currently arrested or on remand in a precarious position pending the outcome of the appeal. While the Metropolitan Police initially stated it was unlikely to arrest supporters following the High Court ruling, the force reversed that policy weeks later, allowing the enforcement of the ban to continue unabated.
