The woman behind a pro-Palestinian activist group appeared in court on Monday to contest the UK government’s move to blacklist the organization under terrorism legislation, a decision her legal team described as having “the hallmarks of an authoritarian and blatant abuse of power”.
Huda Ammori, who co-founded Palestine Action in 2020, is asking the High Court in London to allow a full legal challenge against the ban, which was imposed on claims that the group carried out or took part in terrorist activities.
Earlier this month, the court turned down Ammori’s request to suspend the ban. After a final appeal failed, the proscription became effective just after midnight on July 5. The ban makes involvement with the group a criminal offense, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
According to her lawyer Raza Husain, the case marks the first time a direct action organisation has been designated as a terrorist group, arguing that this move breaks from “the honourable history of civil disobedience on conscientious grounds in our country”.
Since the ban, several individuals have been arrested for displaying signs seen to support the group. Ammori’s legal team also claims that police have increased their surveillance of individuals showing solidarity with Palestinians.
The UK’s interior minister, Yvette Cooper, maintains that acts involving violence or property destruction do not qualify as lawful protest. She cited incidents such as storming a military facility and damaging two aircraft as grounds for the government’s decision.
Palestine Action has stepped up actions against UK-based companies with ties to Israel, frequently disrupting their operations by vandalising property or blocking access. The group accuses the British authorities of enabling alleged war crimes committed by Israel during its military campaign in Gaza.
Israel, however, denies all allegations of misconduct in the war, which began after Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
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