Says “Terror” tag UNLAWFUL
By SCM Staff Writer
THE GOVERNMENT’S controversial ban on activist group Palestine Action has been sensationally overturned by the High Court.
In a stinging rebuke to Whitehall, senior judges ruled yesterday that branding the group a “terrorist organization” was unlawful.
The landmark decision is a massive blow to the Home Office, which had used draconian counter-terror laws to shut down the network last summer.
Dame Victoria Sharp and two other top judges declared that former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper failed to follow the government’s own rules when she proscribed the group in July 2025.
The court found the ban was “disproportionate” and a breach of fundamental rights to free speech and assembly.
While the judges acknowledged that some of the group’s “direct action” involved criminal damage, they ruled it didn’t meet the legal threshold to be lumped in with the likes of ISIS or Al-Qaeda.
Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori, who brought the legal challenge, celebrated outside the Royal Courts of Justice as supporters waved placards reading “I’m Not A Terrorist.”
”The High Court has drawn a line in the sand,” she said. “Direct action is not terrorism, and the government cannot use these powers just to silence people they don’t like.”
Palestine Action burst onto the scene in 2020, targeting UK-based factories they claim supply weapons to Israel.
Their tactics—which include occupying roofs, smashing windows, and dousing buildings in red paint—have long divided opinion.
The group was officially banned in July 2025 after a high-profile incident where activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged aircraft.
Since the ban, police have arrested nearly 2,500 people for simply showing support for the group, with some facing up to 14 years in prison.
What Happens Now?
Despite the ruling, the Home Office isn’t backing down.
Current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has already vowed to appeal the decision, insisting that “supporting the Palestinian cause is not the same as supporting Palestine Action.”
For now, the group technically remains on the banned list until a final “relief” hearing on February 20.
Until then, the Met Police have warned that while they will stop making “on-the-spot” arrests for wearing the group’s logo, they are still gathering evidence for potential future charges.
Founded in 2020, Palestine Action uses “direct action” to disrupt the UK arms trade.
The Ban: Proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000 in July 2025 following a raid on a UK airbase.
The Impact: Proscription made it a criminal offense to belong to, fund, or even “invite support” for the group (e.g., wearing a T-shirt or posting a logo).
The Legal Fight: Human rights groups like Amnesty International and Liberty backed the challenge, arguing the government was “weaponizing” terror laws to stop legitimate protest.
