Ban on Palestine Action was lawful, court of appeal rules

Judges overturn decision of high court that government proscription of group under Terrorism Act was wrong

The high court was wrong to rule that the ban on Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws was unlawful , the court of appeal has concluded.

A five-strong panel, including the two most senior judges in England and Wales, overturned February’s decision of the lower court that the proscription of the direct action group, the first to be banned under the Terrorism Act, was wrong.

The court of appeal’s decision will come as a relief to the government whose ban attracted widespread condemnation as well as a civil disobedience campaign defying proscription, during which more than 3,000 people have been arrested.

From 5 July last year , being a member of – or showing support for – for the group became an offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Most of the arrests since proscription were for holding placards saying “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” amid a campaign led by Defend Our Juries.

The panel of five judges included the lady chief justice, Sue Carr, and the master of the rolls, Geoffrey Vos.