Government loses legal battle over Palestine Action terror ban: What happens next? | ITV News

Описание: Palestine Action’s co-founder Huda Ammori has won a High Court challenge over the ban of the organisation as a terror group on two grounds, judges have said.

Judge Dame Victoria Sharp told the court that Palestine Action would remain banned as a terror group to allow the government time to consider an appeal.

Sharp said that both sides had until February 20 to provide written arguments on what should be the consequences of the High Court’s decision.

"Subject to any further representations on relief, we propose to make an order quashing the Home Secretary’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action,” she said.

Reacting to the judgement, the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she is "intends to fight" the decision at appeal.

“As a former Lord Chancellor, I have the deepest respect for our judiciary. Home Secretaries must however retain the ability to take action to protect our national security and keep the public safe. I intend to fight this judgment in the Court of Appeal.”

She said she was "disappointed" with the ruling, adding that the proscription of Palestine Action was a "rigorous and evidence-based decision" which does "not prevent peaceful protest" in support of Palestine.

“It has also concluded that Palestine Action is not an ordinary protest or civil disobedience group, and that its actions are not consistent with democratic values and the rule of law.

“For those reasons, I am disappointed by the Court’s decision and disagree with the notion that banning this terrorist organisation is disproportionate.

“The proscription of Palestine Action followed a rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process, endorsed by Parliament. The proscription does not prevent peaceful protest in support of the Palestinian cause, another point on which the Court agrees.

In a post reacting to the judgement on X, Palestine Action co-founder Ammori said: “BREAKING: WE WON.

“The High Court ruled the Palestine Action ban is unlawful as it is disproportionate to free speech and the Home Secretary breached her own policy.

“The court ordered the ban be quashed. Details of lifting the ban will be decided and completed at a later date.”

She later added in a statement that it would be "profoundly unjust" for the Government to appeal the decision, and called for the arrest of Palestine Action supporters to stop.

“It would be profoundly unjust for the Government to try to delay or stop the High Court’s proposed order quashing this ban while the futures of these thousands of people hang in the balance", she said.

“It would be a draconian overreach and a blatant affront to the rule of law for more people to be arrested today and in the coming weeks for defying a ban which has been ruled unlawful.”

The judgement reverses a previous government decision to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. The ban was implemented in July of last year and made membership or support of Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Ammori began a legal challenge against the decision in June, after a last-minute bid to block the ban from taking effect failed. In October, the Home Office lost a Court of Appeal bid to block the challenge from proceeding.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Palestine Action said there had been more than 2,000 arrests since the proscription took effect, including “priests, teachers, pensioners, retired British Army officers” and an “81-year-old former magistrate”.

Friday's decision follows a separate hearing earlier this month, which cleared six Palestine Action activists who were on trial for aggravated burglary over a break-in at the UK site of an Israel-based defence company.

The jury could not reach a verdict on criminal damage charges, after deliberating for 36 hours. The CPS has indicated it will seek a retrial.

Three of the defendants were also found not guilty of violent disorder.