High Court Rules ‘Terrorist’ Designation of Palestine Action Unlawful in Landmark Free Speech Victory
In a major legal defeat for the UK government, the High Court in London has ruled that the designation of the activist group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization is unlawful. The judgment, delivered on Friday, vindicated the challenge brought by the group’s co-founder, Huda Ammori, declaring the ban a “disproportionate” violation of fundamental rights to free speech and assembly.
Deep Search: Failure to Meet Terrorism Threshold
The court’s decision hinged on a detailed analysis of the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Home Office’s own internal policies. Senior judges, including Dame Victoria Sharp, concluded that the government had “breached its own policy” by applying the extreme measure of proscription to a group whose activities did not meet the necessary legal threshold.
While the court acknowledged that Palestine Action’s tactics—such as scaling factory roofs and damaging machinery—involved “criminality,” it ruled that these actions lacked the “level, scale, and persistence” to be classified as terrorism. The judgment noted that the vast majority of the group’s activities were protest-related and that existing criminal laws were sufficient to deal with instances of property damage. The judges found that proscribing the entire organization was a “disproportionate” response that criminalized legitimate political expression and peaceful assembly.
Objections: Government Vows to Appeal
The government immediately condemned the ruling, signaling that the legal battle is far from over. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed deep dissatisfaction with the verdict, insisting that the ban was necessary for national security.
“I am disappointed by the Court’s decision and disagree with the notion that banning this terrorist organization is disproportionate,” Mahmood stated. She argued that the proscription followed a “rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process” that had been endorsed by Parliament.
Mahmood emphasized that the government intends to appeal the decision. As a result, the court ordered that the ban remain in place temporarily while the appeal is heard. This means that, technically, the group remains proscribed, and supporters could still face arrest until the legal process is fully exhausted.
Background: From Direct Action to “Terrorist” Label
Palestine Action was founded in 2020 with the explicit goal of disrupting the UK operations of Israeli arms manufacturers, particularly Elbit Systems. The group became known for its direct-action tactics, which included occupying factories, smashing windows, and spraying buildings with red paint to symbolize bloodshed in Gaza.
The government moved to ban the group in July 2025 after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painted two military aircraft, causing millions of pounds in damage. This designation placed Palestine Action in the same legal category as groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, making membership or expressions of support—such as wearing a badge or holding a flag—a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Since the ban was implemented, nearly 3,000 people have been arrested, including pensioners, clergy, and veterans, often for minor acts of solidarity. Huda Ammori described the High Court’s ruling as a “monumental victory,” calling the initial ban “one of the most extreme attacks on free speech in recent British history.”
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