UK Supreme Court Begins Legal Challenge Over Palestine Action Terrorist Ban

POLICY WIRE — London, UK — The United Kingdom’s highest court has commenced a two-day legal hearing to challenge the government’s decision to label Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. The proceedings began Wednesday as law enforcement detained several demonstrators who gathered outside the courthouse to protest the group’s proscription.

Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, stated prior to the hearing that her defense would focus on the ban having an unfairly disproportionate impact on the fundamental right to protest and freedom of speech.

The direct-action collective was officially proscribed by the UK government last July under the leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This move has faced significant opposition from various human rights organizations, including Liberty and Amnesty International.

Palestine Action identifies as a movement focused on direct action aimed at ending global involvement in what it describes as an apartheid and genocidal regime in Israel. Currently, the group is listed alongside armed militant factions such as ISIL and al-Qaeda. Under current laws, individuals found supporting or belonging to the banned group could face prison sentences of up to 14 years.

As the court session opened, a crowd of protesters assembled at the building. While some voiced support for the group, others criticized the terrorist designation as an attack on civil liberties. One participant was seen with a sign asking for divine help for Jews who support Palestine and the movement.

Data from the Press Association indicates that approximately 25 individuals were arrested during the demonstration. The final person detained held a sign referencing those who are not married to the UK’s national security adviser but still support the group.

The sign appears to specifically target Sarah Helm, an author and journalist married to the Prime Minister’s national security adviser. Helm previously shared a similar message on X but did not face legal charges.

Following the first day of the trial, Ammori claimed the court had been presented with overwhelming evidence from United Nations experts, Amnesty International, and a former director of MI6. She argued the proscription effectively criminalized legitimate protest as terrorism for the first time in British history.

Ammori characterized the government’s arguments as weak and suggested the administration is struggling with the fallout. She maintained that Palestine Action has never promoted violence, instead utilizing tactics such as lock-ons, graffiti, and vandalism.

Noting that over 4,000 people have been arrested for opposing the Gaza war, she stated the ban has turned Britain into an aberration regarding free speech, urging the justices to end what she termed authoritarian overreach.

Tom Southerden, the law and human rights director for Amnesty International, issued a statement following the Wednesday arrests citing the chaos caused by the misuse of terrorism powers. He described the arrest of celebrities, musicians, and politicians for holding signs as a grim reflection of the dangerous ambiguity in current terrorism laws.

Southerden asserted that regardless of the Supreme Court’s final ruling, it is long for the government to acknowledge its error, lift the ban, and cease the arrests.

The UK government’s crackdown on pro-Palestine voices has faced intense scrutiny since the start of the conflict in Gaza. Recently, Swedish academic Andreas Malm was denied entry into the UK with authorities citing his presence not conducive to the public good. Malm, a vocal critic of the assault, had stated the Labour Party was wrong regarding Gaza before taking office—comments that have come under renewed scrutiny following his travel ban.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)