LONDON — On Friday, a High Court ruling denied Palestine Action’s request to halt the British government’s decision to label the activist group as a terrorist organization. This decision follows an incident where group members broke into a military base and damaged two aircraft.
The activist group aimed to temporarily prevent the enforcement of the ban, which is seen as repressive by the group, but the court’s decision means that it will be enforced starting at midnight. The new legislation will criminalize membership in the group and any support for their actions. Those found in violation could face up to 14 years of imprisonment.
Justice Martin Chamberlain oversaw the hearing, ultimately refusing to provide the group any interim relief from the newly approved ban, which was initially introduced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and has garnered the backing of lawmakers. Although he acknowledged that the decision to categorize Palestine Action as a terrorist entity might affect public perceptions of ‘terrorism,’ he emphasized that it was not the court’s role to critique the legislation enacted.
Huda Ammori, a co-founder of the activist group, sought to challenge the government’s classification of her organization as a terrorist group under the 2000 Terrorism Act. Currently, this act proscribes 81 organizations, such as Hamas and al-Qaida. Ammori’s legal representative, Raza Husain, advocated for a suspension of the “hasty” and “authoritarian abuse of statutory power” until more thorough hearings are conducted in July.
“This marks the first instance in which a civil disobedience group devoid of violent intentions is being labeled as terrorists,” Husain pointed out. He further noted that his client drew inspiration from various historical movements within the UK, including those led by suffragettes, anti-apartheid crusaders, and opponents of the Iraq War.
This governmental crackdown came in response to pro-Palestinian activists infiltrating a Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton, where they vandalized two airplanes as a statement against the UK’s ongoing military backing of Israel amidst the Gaza conflict. The authorities noted that the mischief cost an estimated 7 million pounds ($9.4 million) in damages, resulting in four individuals facing charges related to the incident.
These four individuals, aged between 22 and 35, found themselves charged with conspiring to cause damage and unlawfully entering a prohibited site to act prejudicially against UK interests. The initial court appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court saw no pleas, with subsequent proceedings slated for July 18 at the Central Criminal Court.
Following the break-in, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper accelerated efforts to classify Palestine Action as a terrorist entity. Decrying the defacement of the planes as “disgraceful,” she reiterated that the group has repeatedly engaged in unacceptable acts of criminal damage.