Irish author Sally Rooney has described the High Court's decision to overturn the ban on Palestine Action as a victory for civil liberties in Britain. The ruling, delivered last week, found that the proscription of the direct action group under anti-terrorism laws was disproportionate and unlawful.
Rooney, author of Normal People and Conversations with Friends, provided two witness statements in support of the legal challenge brought by Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action. She said she plans to use proceeds from her works to support the group and had earlier cancelled a trip to the UK for fear of arrest.
In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, Rooney stated: 'The proscription of a political protest group under the Terrorism Act represents a truly extreme assault on ordinary rights and freedoms, and the High Court acknowledged as much.' She emphasised that the legal question was not whether Palestine Action's activities are justified, but whether it should be a criminal offence to debate them.
The High Court rejected arguments that Palestine Action is non-violent, stating that damaging property involves violence. Rooney disagreed, arguing that 'the word “violence” implies harm to a living being' and that property damage is consistent with civil disobedience traditions.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed disappointment at the ruling and intends to appeal, citing the court's finding that the group promotes criminality. The government had previously proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, a decision endorsed by Parliament.
