Palestine Action Ban Ruled Unlawful After Judicial Review

A landmark judicial review has ruled the government’s proscription of Palestine Action unlawful.

The verdict, handed down on 13 February, is a major victory for Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori and means that thousands of arrests and hundreds of charges made under the Terrorism Act since the ban came into force will, in theory, be quashed.

In a statement responding to the ruling, Ammori said: “This is a monumental victory both for our fundamental freedoms here in Britain and in the struggle for freedom for the Palestinian people, striking down a decision that will forever be remembered as one of the most extreme attacks on free speech in recent British history.”

The judicial review in London’s high court ran from 26 November to 2 December and included witness statements from Irish author Sally Rooney, human rights groups Amnesty International and Liberty, UN special rapporteur on protecting human rights Ben Saul, and Novara Media.

It is the first time in British history that a proscribed group has been able to challenge its proscription via judicial review.

At least 2,350 people have been arrested and hundreds charged for allegedly showing support for Palestine Action since July – more people than during the entire ‘war on terror’.

The judges said the ban will stay in place until the government decides whether or not to appeal.