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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/uk-high-court-rules-palestine-action-ban-unlawful">english.almayadeen.net</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">UK High Court rules Palestine Action ban unlawful</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen English</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">February 13, 2026</div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>The
High Court in the UK rules the ban on Palestine Action unlawful under
the Terrorism Act, though the order remains, pending an appeal.</p><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
<a href="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2026/2/13/4db351db-cba2-457a-8350-267a7fa81689.jpg?width=1000" tabindex="0"><img src="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2026/2/13/4db351db-cba2-457a-8350-267a7fa81689.jpg?width=1000&preset=w750" alt="Supporters of Palestine Action stage a protest outside the Royal Court of Justice in London, Friday, February 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img"></a>
Supporters of Palestine Action stage a protest outside the Royal Court of Justice in London, Friday, February 13, 2026. (<em>AP </em>Photo/Kin Cheung)
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<p>The UK High Court ruled on Friday that the government's proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act was unlawful.</p>
<p><span>On Friday, three judges led by Dame </span><a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/palestine-action-uk-case-reassigned-to-panel-with-pro--israe">Victoria Sharp</a><span>, president of the King\u2019s Bench Division, concluded that the decision to ban the group was unlawful. However, </span><a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/uk-high-court-hears-challenge-to-controversial-palestine-act">the ban</a><span> will remain temporarily in place to allow the government time to appeal.</span></p>
<p>From July 5 last year, membership of or public support for <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/uk-advocacy-groups-stand-in-solidarity-with-palestine-action">Palestine Action</a>
became a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The
group had been placed on the list of proscribed organisations,
categorizing it alongside internationally recognized armed groups.</p>
<p>The court upheld the challenge on
two of four grounds. Judges found that the proscription represented \u201ca
very significant interference\u201d with the rights to freedom of speech,
peaceful assembly, and association. They also ruled that Yvette Cooper\u2019s
decision was inconsistent with her own stated policy.</p>
<p>Sharp described Palestine Action as
an organisation \u201cthat promotes its political cause through criminality
and encouragement of criminality\u201d, but continued, \u201cThe court considered
that the proscription of Palestine Action was disproportionate. A very
small number of Palestine Action\u2019s activities amounted to acts of
terrorism within the definition of section 1 of the 2000 Act."</p>
<p>\u201cFor these, and for Palestine Action\u2019s other criminal activities, the <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/uk-protesters-storm-prison-in-support-of-palestine-action-ac">general criminal law</a>
remains available. The nature and scale of Palestine Action\u2019s
activities falling within the definition of terrorism had not yet
reached the level, scale, and persistence to warrant proscription,\u201d
Sharp added.</p>
<h2>Legal and political repercussions</h2>
<p>The judgment marks the first time
an organisation banned under the Terrorism Act has successfully
challenged its proscription in court.</p>
<p>According to the campaign group
Defend Our Juries, more than 2,700 people have been arrested since the
ban took effect, most under section 13 of the Terrorism Act. More than
500 individuals, including clergy, pensioners, and military veterans,
have been charged.</p>
<p>If the proscription order is
ultimately quashed, the charges could be dropped. For now, those charged
remain in legal uncertainty while the ban stays in force pending
appeal.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/leaked-uk-intel-exposes-flawed-ban-on-palestine-action">Leaked UK intel exposes flawed ban on Palestine Action</a></strong></p>
<h2>Government to appeal decision</h2>
<p>Current home secretary <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/uk-home-secretary-rejects-us-claims-of--civilizational-erasu">Shabana Mahmood</a> said she would challenge the ruling.</p>
<p>Palestine Action co-founder Huda
Ammori described the decision as a \u201cmonumental victory\u201d and said the ban
was based on property damage rather than violence against individuals.</p>
<p> \u201cWe were banned because Palestine Action\u2019s disruption of Israel\u2019s
largest weapons manufacturer, Elbit Systems, cost the corporation
millions of pounds in profits and to lose out on multibillion-pound
contracts.</p>
<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve used the same tactics as direct action organisations
throughout history, including anti-war groups Keir Starmer defended in
court, and the government acknowledged in these legal proceedings that
this ban was based on property damage, not violence against people.</p>
<p>\u201cBanning Palestine Action was always about appeasing pro-Israel lobby
groups and weapons manufacturers, and nothing to do with terrorism \u2026
Today\u2019s landmark ruling is a victory for freedom for all, and I urge the
government to respect the court\u2019s decision and bring this injustice to
an end without further delay.\u201d</p>
<p>The case is likely to intensify
debate in the United Kingdom over the balance between national security
powers and civil liberties.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/uk-hunger-striker-ends-protest-after-icu-transfer--organ-fai">UK hunger striker ends protest after ICU transfer, organ failure</a></strong></p></div></div></div>
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