England’s High Court has ruled that the UK government’s July 2025 decision to proscribe Palestine Action under terrorism legislation was unlawful and discriminatory, concluding that the measure should be quashed. In a 46-page judgment, Justice Victoria Sharp determined that the ban resulted in a very significant interference with the rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. While the court acknowledged that a very small number of the group’s activities amounted to acts of terrorism as defined by statute and that the organization promoted its political cause through criminality and encouragement of criminality, it found that proscription was nevertheless disproportionate. The ban, which made membership of and public support for the group punishable by up to 14 years in prison, will remain in force while the government pursues an appeal. The ruling followed a judicial review challenge brought by Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal and political debate surrounding the use of counterterrorism powers in protest-related cases.
Government Response, Arrest Figures, and Legal Implications Across the UK
In a statement posted on X, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed disappointment with the decision and confirmed that the government intended to challenge the ruling in the Court of Appeal. She stated that the court had acknowledged that Palestine Action had carried out acts of terrorism and concluded that its actions were inconsistent with democratic values and the rule of law, adding that the ban followed a rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process. Ammori described the judgment as a monumental victory for fundamental freedoms in Britain and for the Palestinian cause, arguing that nearly 3,000 people had been unlawfully arrested under terrorism laws for holding supportive signs. The campaign group Defend Our Juries said that 2,787 arrests, along with seven additional terror-related charges linked to Zoom events, would now be deemed unlawful if the order is ultimately quashed. Home Office statistics published in December recorded a 660 percent rise in terrorism arrests in the year ending September 2025, with 86 percent linked to support for Palestine Action and an average age of 57 among those detained. Former government lawyer Tim Crosland told Novara Media that police forces could face thousands of legal claims if the ruling stands, while barrister Audrey Cherryl Mogan told Middle East Eye that ongoing criminal cases unrelated to the proscription would not automatically be affected. Outside the court, protesters demonstrated without arrests despite a heavy police presence, with the Metropolitan Police stating that officers would gather evidence for potential future enforcement under what it described as unusual circumstances.