Palestine Action has been granted permission by the Court of Appeal to proceed with a legal challenge against the Government’s decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism laws, following the Home Office’s unsuccessful attempt to block the challenge. This ruling sets the stage for a review of the ban by a High Court judge next month.
The ban, enacted on July 5, criminalized membership in or support for Palestine Action, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years and placing the group in the same category as organizations like Islamic State and the neo-Nazi group National Action. Since the ban came into effect, over 2,000 individuals have been arrested for allegedly backing the group, as reported by the campaign group Defend Our Juries.
Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, initiated legal proceedings against the former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe the group under anti-terrorism laws. Despite government ministers’ efforts to prevent the judicial review, the Court of Appeal, led by Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, rejected the Home Office’s move. Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr emphasized that the judicial review offers a more expedited avenue to challenge the proscription of Palestine Action compared to the process for appealing banning orders.
In response to the ruling, Ms. Ammori expressed satisfaction, stating that the Court of Appeal’s decision not only rebuffed Yvette Cooper’s bid to halt the legal review of the ban but also provided additional grounds for challenging it. This victory is seen as a significant win against what is considered one of the most severe encroachments on civil liberties in recent British history, reinforcing the principle of holding government officials accountable for unlawful actions.
In a detailed 37-page judgment, Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, along with Lord Justice Edis and Lord Justice Lewis, highlighted that the process of seeking deproscription and appealing a refusal at POAC is designed for a different scenario. A spokesperson for the Home Office acknowledged the Court of Appeal’s ruling and stated that the implications would be carefully assessed. Despite the legal developments, Palestine Action remains a proscribed group, and individuals supporting them will face legal consequences. The spokesperson emphasized the distinction between supporting Palestine and endorsing a proscribed terrorist organization, reiterating that the law will be enforced rigorously against those affiliated with Palestine Action.
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