UK Supreme Court to Hear Appeal Over Palestine Action Ban as Police Arrest 77 in London
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 30
UK Supreme Court to Hear Appeal Over Palestine Action Ban as Police Arrest 77 in London
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 30
Summary
77 people were arrested outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court as supporters of Palestine Action gathered during the first hearings against people accused of expressing support for the banned group.
The protest coincided with the UK Supreme Court agreeing to hear co-founder Huda Ammori’s appeal against Palestine Action’s proscription as a terrorist organisation after permission was granted on Wednesday.
A lower court in June upheld the ban as lawful, citing the group’s support for violence, reversing a February High Court ruling that said the proscription unlawfully interfered with freedom of expression.
The case has become an early test for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with Green leader Zack Polanski urging him to revoke the ban and critics arguing the crackdown threatens protest and free-speech rights.
Could thousands of protesters escape prosecution if the Supreme Court rules the controversial Palestine Action terror ban violates human rights?
Will the UK Supreme Court redefine terrorism to include property damage, or will it protect protest rights in this landmark 2026 ruling?
Redefining Terrorism: The Legal and Human Rights Crisis Behind the Palestine Action Ban in Britain
Overview
The UK government's decision to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist organization in July 2025, following the group's high-profile protest at an RAF air base, triggered a major legal battle. After the High Court ruled the ban unlawful, the Court of Appeal reversed this, upholding the government's stance. Now, with the Supreme Court set to decide, thousands of protesters remain in legal limbo, and prosecutions are paused. Meanwhile, harsh sentences for activists—using new 'terrorist connection' laws—signal a shift in how protest is treated, raising fears that direct action and dissent could be increasingly criminalized under broad counter-terrorism powers.