Palestine Action ban to be reviewed by Supreme Court
The controversial ban of the protest group Palestine Action under terrorism legislation will be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
In a major blow to the Home Office, the court confirmed on Thursday that it had given the group’s co-founder permission to challenge the ban, which came into force in July. 2025.
Although full details of the reasons for the appeal have not yet been published, the BBC understands they relate to Huda Ammori’s claim that the ban violated her human rights.
Officials at the court say the appeal will be expedited, meaning it will be heard after the summer recess. The final outcome of the case could have significant implications for terrorism legislation in the UK.
The decision comes weeks after the end of the first major trial involving members of the group, which claimed more than £1 million in damages against a defense firm owned by its Israeli parent company near Bristol. Four members of the burglary team were jailed, while one was sentenced to prison for causing grievous bodily harm to a police officer who was hit with a sledgehammer.
Separately, more than 2,000 people face possible prosecution for protesting the ban by declaring their support for a banned terrorist group at mass demonstrations.
The fight to ban Palestine Action has been going on for more than a year.
Former Home Affairs Minister Yvette Cooper banned the group on the advice of police and security officials following a growing number of intrusions into Israeli-owned defense firm Elbit.
The Supreme Court initially ruled that the ban was unlawful; but five judges at the Court of Appeal subsequently rejected the ban, ruling unanimously that the home secretary had acted lawfully and within his authority to ban Palestine Action.
This decision of the Supreme Court will now be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
About 117 protesters were arrested outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, with the Metropolitan Police saying the majority of arrests were to express support for the group.
Many protesters had arrived because they were awaiting trial for allegedly supporting the group at previous public events. However, these cases were listed incorrectly. Many of the defendants said they felt they had no choice but to come, despite the court and the Metropolitan Police telling them not to do so.
Palestine Action co-founder Ammori welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the appeal and said the latest arrests were part of a broader crackdown on Palestinian solidarity.
“We will continue to fight this ban all the way to the High Court and, if necessary, the European Court of Human Rights, to overturn what has become one of the most extreme attacks on freedom of expression and the right to protest in modern British history.”
