Overview
- Home Office lawyers opened their Court of Appeal case on Tuesday to overturn February’s High Court ruling that called the proscription of Palestine Action disproportionate, and the ban remains in force during the appeal.
- Government counsel argued the lower court overstated the human rights impact and said Palestine Action meets the Terrorism Act test for being concerned in terrorism, with Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr leading a five-judge panel.
- Supporters hand-delivered a letter with about 1,700 signatures declaring support for the group, which the court acknowledged on the record before stating it would not consider the document in the case.
- Since the July 2025 ban, police have arrested thousands of people for signs or statements of support that can carry penalties of up to 14 years in prison, leaving many cases hanging on the appeal decision expected in late May or June.
- Britain’s independent terrorism watchdog, in a report published Wednesday, warned that broad readings of counterterror law risk pulling protest into national security policing and urged clearer limits on when serious property damage counts as terrorism.