The Court of Appeal has determined that the government acted legally when it classified Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. A panel of five senior judges reversed a prior High Court judgment, which had argued the ban improperly infringed upon protest rights and was enacted incorrectly by officials.
The appellate judges concluded the government’s actions were both appropriate and necessary. In response, co-founder Huda Ammori announced plans to elevate the case to the UK Supreme Court. Since the initial February ruling, the group has remained banned, rendering affiliation or support a criminal act carrying potential 14-year prison terms.
Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr stated that the home secretary held the legal authority to proscribe the group. She emphasized that while the organization may enjoy public support, it fundamentally promotes violence classified as terrorism. The court rejected comparisons to historical civil disobedience movements, characterizing the group instead as a secretive entity utilizing cells to target defense firms and disrupt national security interests.
The court further observed that the executive branch maintains broader discretion in national security matters than the judiciary. Consequently, the judges affirmed that ministerial judgment regarding such threats carries significant weight. Ammori expressed surprise at the reversal, labeling the ban an attack on free speech and vowing to continue legal efforts against it.
