UK Appeals Ban on Palestine Action

The UK government is appealing a High Court ruling that deemed the ban on pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action unlawful. The ban, which was imposed last year under terrorism laws, has led to over 2,700 arrests for showing support of the group.

The appeal hearing began on Tuesday at the Court of Appeal in London and is being overseen by a panel of five judges instead of the usual three. According to Reuters, lawyers representing Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood argued that the High Court's finding that the ban had a significant impact on freedom of expression was 'overstated and wrong.' The group was proscribed after activists damaged two military planes at RAF Brize Norton air base in June.

The ban has placed Palestine Action on par with groups like Islamic State or al Qaeda, making membership a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. According to Al Jazeera, the group's co-founder Huda Ammori stated that the ban had created a 'profound chilling effect' and fostered a climate of fear among those campaigning for Palestinian rights.

The Metropolitan Police initially paused arrests following the High Court ruling but resumed enforcement earlier this month, arresting over 500 people. The fate of those arrested remains uncertain as the appeal process continues. According to Al Jazeera, celebrities and scholars, including novelist Sally Rooney and climate activist Greta Thunberg have signed a letter in support of Palestine Action.