The British government has received permission to appeal a High Court decision that declared its proscription of the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action unlawful. The ruling had previously found that banning the organization was a disproportionate restriction on free speech.
Palestine Action, co-founded in 2020 by Huda Ammori, has staged direct actions targeting defence companies linked to Israel, including demonstrations that blocked entrances and sprayed red paint. The ban followed a June incident at the Royal Air Force’s Brize Norton air base, where activists caused damage to two planes—a move Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as “disgraceful.”
Lawyers for the group argued that the proscription was an authoritarian measure that infringed on the right to protest. Earlier this month, the High Court sided with them, ruling that the Home Office’s decision was unlawful.
The government has now been allowed to challenge the ruling, and the ban will remain in place during the appeal process. A Home Office spokesperson said the department was “pleased it can appeal” and emphasized that protecting national security and public safety remains its top priority.
The original court decision had created legal uncertainty for hundreds of individuals who had faced prosecution for demonstrating in support of the group. In response, London’s Metropolitan Police indicated it would focus on evidence collection rather than immediate arrests.
Observers note that the case underscores the tension between national security concerns and civil liberties, raising questions about how governments balance public safety with the right to protest.
The appeal will determine whether the ban continues long-term and may set precedent for how activism against defence and security companies is regulated in the UK.
