London’s High Court ruled on Friday that the British government’s ban on pro-Palestinian campaign group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization is unlawful, after a legal challenge by the group’s co-founder.
The organization’s co-founder Huda Ammori successfully challenged the British government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 after three judges, led by Victoria Sharp, said ministers acted unlawfully.
Membership or support of the group was made illegal last July and punishable by prison sentences of up to 14 years.
Ammori argued the move by the Home Office disproportionately interfered with freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, which the court concurred with. Judges also said the ban was not consistent with the government’s policy to limit the ability to declare groups as terrorist organizations.
“The nature and scale of Palestine Action’s activities falling within the definition of terrorism had not yet reached the level, scale and persistence to warrant proscription,” the summary read.
The ‘Palestine Action’ proscription has just been overturned by the Supreme Court which ordered that the ban be lifted | @WokeratiMarty pic.twitter.com/AdnmWJdNVY
— Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) February 13, 2026
However, Judge Sharp said the ban will not be lifted until a further court order “pending the possibility of an appeal.” In its judgment, the court said Palestine Action carried out acts “amounting to terrorism,” was not an “ordinary protest group” and intended to “promote the use of violence.”
Since the proscription, more than 2,700 people have been arrested and hundreds have been charged in a civil disobedience campaign for expressing support for the group, according to the Defend Our Juries group.
In a statement, Ammori said the verdict was a “monumental victory both for our fundamental freedoms here in Britain and in the struggle for freedom for the Palestinian people,” adding the ban was a “Trumpian abuse of power which would have seen this Labor government proscribe the Suffragettes.”
BREAKING: WE WON.
— Huda Ammori (@HudaAmmori) February 13, 2026
The High Court ruled the Palestine Action ban is unlawful as it is disproportionate to free speech and the Home Secretary breached her own policy.
The court ordered the ban be quashed. Details of lifting the ban will be decided and completed at a later date.
Starmer Govt to Appeal
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed her disappointment at the judgment, which the government will fight in the Court of Appeal, and said the ban was not disproportionate.
The Court acknowledged that Palestine Action has carried out acts of terrorism. It concluded that its actions are not consistent with democratic values and the rule of law
— Shabana Mahmood MP (@ShabanaMahmood) February 13, 2026
Supporting the Palestinian cause is not the same as supporting Palestine Action.
The Government's… pic.twitter.com/LAsTR7VVDw
“The proscription of Palestine Action followed a rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process,” Mahmood said in a statement. “The proscription does not prevent peaceful protest in support of the Palestinian cause, another point on which the court agrees.
“As a former lord chancellor, I have the deepest respect for our judiciary. Home secretaries must however retain the ability to take action to protect our national security and keep the public safe.”
Commenting on the ruling, UN special rapporteur on human rights Ben Saul welcomed the court decision, calling on Mahmood “to reflect on this judgment and accept the court’s conclusion to set aside proscription.”
🚨BREAKING — UN special rapporteur on human rights Ben Saul has welcomed the court ruling that the ban on Palestine Action was unlawful.
— Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) February 13, 2026
He invites UK home secretary Shabana Mahmood "to reflect on this judgment and accept the court's conclusion to set aside proscription". pic.twitter.com/J58DwSOV0R
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)