Palestine Action’s co-founder has been granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court following a ruling by Court of Appeal judges upholding the group’s ban. The legal development stems from the arrest of 77 individuals at a demonstration outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London in support of the protest group.
Previously, a decision by five Court of Appeal judges deemed the ban on Palestine Action as a terrorist organization to be a justified and proportionate restriction on freedom of expression rights. This decision overturned an earlier ruling by three High Court judges who found the ban imposed by the then-home secretary Yvette Cooper to be unlawful.
In response to the Court of Appeal’s decision, the co-founder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, expressed her intention to escalate the case to the Supreme Court and even the European Court of Human Rights if necessary. Her bid to challenge the ban was recently approved for appeal by Lord Sales, Lord Leggatt, and Lady Simler, with the court scheduling a hearing between October and December.
The challenge is based on the argument that Ms. Cooper misapplied her own policy in implementing the ban. However, the court rejected a separate bid to challenge the decision on the grounds of interference with freedom of speech and association rights.
Following the latest developments, Ms. Ammori highlighted the arrests made during the protest, stating that the prohibition of Palestine Action has extended to suppress expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people, impacting free speech and the right to protest in the country.
Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the magistrates’ court, where cases related to backing the group were scheduled to be heard, but were adjourned until October. During the demonstration, protesters were detained by police, leading to a total of 77 arrests, primarily for expressing support for a banned organization.
Court officials confirmed that all cases tied to Palestine Action have been postponed until October 26 pending the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal regarding the group’s proscription as a terrorist entity.
