UK Moves to Ban Palestine Action, Sparking Legal Battle Over Terrorism Classification

June 30, 2025
UK Moves to Ban Palestine Action, Sparking Legal Battle Over Terrorism Classification
  • Ammori emphasized that classifying political protest as terrorism poses a dangerous precedent for freedoms of speech and assembly in the UK.

  • On June 30, 2025, the UK Government submitted a draft order to Parliament aimed at amending the Terrorism Act 2000, which would classify membership and support for Palestine Action as illegal, carrying a potential penalty of up to 14 years in prison.

  • The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced plans to criminalize membership in Palestine Action, aligning the group with terrorist organizations like al-Qaida and Islamic State.

  • This move follows a vandalism incident at RAF Brize Norton on June 20, 2025, where five individuals were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offenses linked to Palestine Action.

  • Cooper defended the ban by citing a history of criminal damage attributed to Palestine Action, which has conducted direct actions against companies associated with the Israeli military.

  • Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, criticized the Government's rushed process, arguing it limits parliamentary debate and unfairly labels supporters of the group as 'terrorists'.

  • In response to the proposed ban, Palestine Action is initiating a legal challenge against the UK Government's classification of the group as a terrorist organization under anti-terror laws.

  • An urgent hearing took place on the same day as the draft order submission, where Ammori sought judicial review, with a subsequent hearing scheduled for July 4, 2025.

  • Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Liberty, have expressed concerns about the misuse of anti-terror laws to suppress dissent, voicing support for Palestine Action.

  • Ammori's legal team argues that the Government consulted extensively with the Israeli government and arms companies, while failing to engage with civil society groups.

  • The proposed ban has faced backlash from protest groups, civil liberties organizations, and various politicians, who deem it excessively harsh.

  • A decision on whether Palestine Action can pursue its legal challenge is expected during the week of July 21, 2025.

Summary based on 6 sources


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