Ban on Palestine Action 'massively backfired', says group's co-founder

The high court found the proscription of Palestine Action unlawful and disproportionate, saying it seriously interfered with protest and free-speech rights. The order remains in place while the home secretary seeks to appeal, leaving more than 2,500 people affected.

The high court ruled that the government's proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful and disproportionate. Three senior judges found the order to be a very serious interference with rights to protest and free speech. The ban was challenged by Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, who brought the successful judicial review. The home secretary has said the government will appeal and the proscription remains in effect pending further legal arguments. Key facts: - Three senior judges ruled the proscription was disproportionate and an interference with protest and free-speech rights. - The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the government will appeal and argues the decision followed a rigorous, evidence-based process endorsed by parliament. - The proscription order remains in place while legal arguments continue, affecting more than 2,500 people connected with the group. - More than 500 placard-holders have been charged under section 13 of the Terrorism Act and many cases were delayed pending the judicial review; Huda Ammori led the legal challenge and described the ban as having "massively backfired." Summary: The court's decision limits the legal basis for proscribing an organisation whose activity the judges said could largely be dealt with by criminal law, and it highlights competing legal considerations between security measures and protest rights. The proscription remains effective while the government pursues an appeal, so the final legal status of the order and the pending criminal cases is undetermined at this time.