UK Protest group Palestine Action Faces Legal challenge Over Government ban
LONDON - A UK-based direct action group, Palestine Action, is challenging a government ban that critics say threatens protest rights across the country. The group, known for disruptive demonstrations targeting arms companies allegedly complicit in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, was proscribed by then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman in January 2024.
The ban,enacted under the Terrorism Act 2006,criminalizes membership or support for Palestine Action,raising concerns about freedom of expression,assembly,and association. A judicial review scheduled for November will determine whether the government’s decision was lawful, specifically if it disproportionately interfered with the group’s rights under the European Convention on human Rights (ECHR). The outcome could set a precedent for how the UK government responds to future protests and activism.
Palestine Action gained prominence through direct actions, including occupying and disrupting the premises of companies like Elbit Systems, an Israeli-owned defense contractor. The group argues these actions aim to disrupt the UK’s arms trade with Israel and highlight alleged complicity in violations of Palestinian rights.
In July, London High Court Judge Martin chamberlain ruled that a legal review was warranted, stating it was “reasonably arguable” that the ban was a disproportionate interference with Palestine Action’s rights. Chamberlain also suggested that Braverman could have consulted with the group before enacting the proscription order.
Rights organizations warn the case represents a pivotal moment for protest in the UK. “If this unprecedented, authoritarian proscription is allowed to stand, there is a clear danger that it will be used against othre groups the government of the day does not like – whether that be racial or climate justice groups, disability rights groups or trade unions,” said a spokesperson for Defend Our Juries.
CNN’s Mick Krever, Isobel Yeung, Billy Stockwell and Jasmin Sykes contributed reporting.
