What's happened
On October 17, 2025, the UK Court of Appeal rejected the Home Office's attempt to block a judicial review challenging the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group. Co-founder Huda Ammori will challenge the ban in the High Court starting November 25. The ban, effective since July, criminalizes membership and support, leading to over 2,000 arrests. The case raises questions about free speech and protest rights amid ongoing pro-Palestinian activism.
What's behind the headline?
Legal and Political Implications
The Court of Appeal's decision to allow a judicial review of Palestine Action's proscription marks a significant legal precedent. It challenges the government's broad use of anti-terror laws against protest groups, emphasizing the tension between national security and civil liberties.
Government Strategy and Public Response
The Home Office's insistence on a specialist tribunal (POAC) reflects an attempt to limit judicial scrutiny and delay legal challenges. The court's rejection of this approach underscores the urgency and scale of arrests, with over 2,000 people detained for supporting Palestine Action.
Impact on Protest and Free Speech
The ban and subsequent policing have strained public order resources and raised concerns about the right to protest. New police powers to restrict repeated demonstrations, citing "cumulative impact," risk curtailing legitimate dissent, particularly in pro-Palestinian activism.
Broader Context
The case unfolds amid ongoing conflict in Gaza and a fragile ceasefire, with Palestine Action accusing the UK government of complicity in Israeli actions. The legal challenge will test the balance between combating terrorism and protecting democratic freedoms.
Forecast
The High Court ruling in November will likely influence future government approaches to protest groups and anti-terror legislation. A successful challenge could invalidate the ban and impact thousands of pending prosecutions, reshaping the landscape of political activism in the UK.
What the papers say
The Guardian's Haroon Siddique highlights the unprecedented nature of the judicial review, noting it is the first time a banned group under anti-terror laws has been granted such a challenge, emphasizing the court's view that the High Court offers a quicker resolution than the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (POAC). The Independent reports on the heavy policing burden, with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealing nearly 2,000 arrests and the strain on counterterrorism resources, underscoring the scale of enforcement and the complexity of upcoming trials. Al Jazeera and The New Arab focus on Huda Ammori's legal victory and the broader implications for free speech, quoting Ammori calling the ban "utterly Orwellian" and activists framing the ruling as a blow to government attempts to suppress pro-Palestinian dissent. The New Arab also includes voices like filmmaker Saeed Taji Farouky, who describes the ruling as a "huge relief" and a rare moment of justice for the movement. The Council of Europe, cited by The New Arab, expresses concern over mass arrests and urges a review of UK protest policing, highlighting international human rights scrutiny. Meanwhile, The Independent and The Mirror provide detailed accounts of the group's direct actions against Israeli-linked companies and the government's rationale for the ban, including incidents at RAF Brize Norton and Elbit Systems sites. This range of coverage illustrates the multifaceted nature of the story: legal battles, civil liberties debates, policing challenges, and the geopolitical backdrop of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
How we got here
Palestine Action, founded in 2020, is a direct action group targeting UK arms firms linked to Israel. The UK government banned it as a terrorist organization in July 2025 after activists damaged military equipment, including at RAF Brize Norton. The ban criminalizes membership and support, sparking mass arrests and legal challenges over free speech and protest rights.
Go deeper
- What are the legal grounds for challenging Palestine Action's proscription?
- How has the UK government justified banning Palestine Action?
- What impact have the arrests had on protest rights in the UK?
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