Palestine Action's co-founder Huda Ammori has been granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal ruled the group's terror ban was lawful. The legal challenge update came as police arrested 77 people at a protest outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London for expressing support for the group.
Court Rulings and Appeal
In June, five Court of Appeal judges said the ban on the organisation as a terror group was a "justified and proportionate" interference on freedom of expression rights. This overturned a High Court ruling by three judges in February that then-home secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to ban Palestine Action was unlawful, following a legal challenge from Ammori.
After the Court of Appeal judgment, Ammori said she intended to take the case to the Supreme Court, and the European Court of Human Rights if necessary. She launched her bid earlier this month, and in a decision published on Thursday, Lord Sales, Lord Leggatt and Lady Simler granted permission for her appeal. The case is to be expedited, with a hearing expected between October and December.
Protest and Arrests
Hundreds gathered outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, where more than 2,000 cases related to supporting the group had been due to be heard on Thursday. However, those cases had been adjourned to October earlier that week. Protesters chanting "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action" were detained by police, while demonstrators shouted "shame on you" and "under what power?".
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "Officers have arrested 77 people. The majority of arrests have been for expressing support for a proscribed organisation. Four people have been arrested for encouraging or assisting a criminal offence. Police officers remain at the scene and continue to make arrests."
Defendant Confusion and Costs
Court officials confirmed that all cases relating to Palestine Action have been adjourned until October 26, to await the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal over the group's proscription as a terrorism organisation. Defendants who had travelled from Yorkshire, Wales and Merseyside complained of "chaos", telling officials they had not been informed their hearing was not taking place. The courts service now faces a bill running to thousands of pounds to compensate defendants who travelled unnecessarily.
Claire Jeffrey, 52, from Edinburgh, said she had not been told her hearing had been adjourned. She told the Press Association: "Scotland's a long way. It's expensive to come here, and we have to rearrange commitments. It's just really frustrating to… be told you're on a court roll, and then you turn up, and they're like, 'No, you're not'. So it's really discombobulating and frustrating."
Marji Mansfield, 69, from Chichester, West Sussex, described the confusion as "very stressful". She had received a letter from the court telling her she "must attend" for her first hearing scheduled for Thursday morning, but the letter also stated: "Please do not attend court on July 30 unless you receive further instructions directly from Westminster Magistrates' Court."
Tim Crosland, co-founder of activist group Defend Our Juries, which organised the protest, said people inside court were being handed flyers informing them cases had been adjourned. The former government lawyer said: "I've been connected to the legal system for quite a long time, I have never witnessed anything like that before. That is not how courts communicate with people on trial. This is the clearest indication the system has no way of dealing with that – it is going to be chaos. This is falling at the first hurdle."
Protest Dynamics
Protesters outside court, many dressed in red or wearing a keffiyeh, waved Palestinian flags and held placards, chanting "free, free Palestine". The demonstration was initially designed to replicate a graduation ceremony, where supporters would receive a certificate for "defending fundamental freedoms". However, this was halted by police when two protesters were arrested while constructing a small platform. The stage, certificates and posters were confiscated.
Sue Morhall, 79, who witnessed the arrests, said: "Two of the organisers were just trying to erect a small stage, but as soon as they were unfolding it, the police came along and just took over and arrested them. They were cuffed and lifted off." Morhall was one of many pensioners at the protest. She told PA: "We're old; if you put us in jail, it's easier for us. Younger people nowadays have such stringent rules against them. That's why a lot of younger people can't do it, they risk carrying a terrorist-supporter label against their name for life. We're old, a lot of us, so we've got to carry the mantle for them."
