Palestine Action co-founder challenges UK ban under anti-terror laws
The co-founder of a pro-Palestinian campaign group appeared in court on Monday to challenge the British government’s decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism legislation, a move her legal team described as having “the hallmarks of an authoritarian and blatant abuse of power.”
Huda Ammori, who co-founded Palestine Action in 2020, is seeking permission from London’s High Court to proceed with a full legal challenge against the group’s proscription. The UK government banned the group on the grounds that it had committed or taken part in acts of terrorism.
Earlier this month, the High Court rejected Ammori’s request to suspend the ban. Following a failed last-minute appeal, the proscription officially came into effect just after midnight on July 5.
Under the law, being a member of a proscribed group is a criminal offense, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Ammori’s lawyer, Raza Husain, argued that Palestine Action is the first direct action group to be banned as a terrorist organization, calling the move incompatible with “the honourable history of civil disobedience on conscientious grounds in our country.”
Since the ban, dozens of individuals have been arrested for carrying placards believed to show support for Palestine Action. Ammori’s legal team also claims that police scrutiny has intensified toward protesters expressing support for the Palestinian cause.
Britain’s interior minister, Yvette Cooper, defended the decision, stating that violence and criminal damage have no place in lawful protest. She cited the group’s actions, including breaking into a military base and damaging two aircraft, as justification for the proscription.
Palestine Action has increasingly focused its efforts on companies in the UK with links to Israel, frequently engaging in activities such as spraying red paint, obstructing entrances, and damaging property.
The group accuses the British government of enabling what it describes as Israeli war crimes in Gaza, amid the ongoing bombardment of the territory.
