UK Court of Appeal rules Palestine Action ban to be lawful

The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court ruling and found the UK government’s ban on the direct action group Palestine Action to be lawful.

In February, the High Court found that then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe the group was “unlawful” and “discriminatory”, following a challenge brought by the group’s co-founder Huda Ammori.

The government immediately stated their intention to appeal the ruling, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood saying she was “disappointed” with the outcome, adding that the ban “followed a rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process”.

The proscription, which made membership or support for the group punishable by up to 14 years in prison, has since remained in force pending the outcome of the appeal on Monday.

Since it was introduced, thousands of people have been arrested for terrorism offences for holding signs in support for the group in silent vigils across the UK.

According to the campaign group Defend our Juries, around 700 people have been arrested for displaying support for the group since the ban was deemed to be unlawful. Some 3400 people had been arrested by the time of the High Court ruling.

This is a developing story…