Palestine Action terror ban made UK ‘international outlier', High Court told
The ban means that membership of, or support for, the direct action group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
On July 4, Ms Ammori failed in a High Court bid to temporarily block the ban coming into effect, with the Court of Appeal dismissing a challenge over that decision less than two hours before the proscription came into force on July 5.
The case returned to the High Court in London on Monday, where lawyers for Ms Ammori asked a judge to grant the green light for a full legal challenge against the decision to ban the group, saying it was an 'unlawful interference' with freedom of expression.
Raza Husain KC said: 'We say the proscription of Palestine Action is repugnant to the tradition of the common law and contrary to the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights).'
The barrister continued: 'The decision is so extreme as to render the UK an international outlier.'
Mr Husain added: 'The decision to proscribe Palestine Action had the hallmarks of an authoritarian and blatant abuse of power.'
'The consequences are not just limited to arrest,' Mr Husain later said, telling the court there was 'rampant uncertainty' in the aftermath of the ban.
Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC, also for Ms Ammori, later said: 'The impacts (of proscription) have already been significant.'
She continued: 'Dozens and dozens of people have been arrested for protesting, seated and mostly silent protest.'
The Home Office is defending the legal challenge.
Previously, Ben Watson KC, for the Home Office, said Palestine Action could challenge the Home Secretary's decision at the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (POAC), a specialist tribunal, rather than at the High Court.
Sir James Eadie KC, representing the department on Monday, said that an 'exceptional case' would be needed for it to go to the High Court, rather than the POAC.
He said: 'Judicial review is, and has been accepted to be, a remedy of last resort and that is for very good and well-established reasons.'
However, Mr Husain told the court on Monday morning that the POAC was not 'convenient nor effective' in this case.
He continued: 'It would be quite absurd to say that we should tolerate the consequences of the proscription… even if it is unlawful, and just go to POAC.
'That is an absurd position.'
Ms Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action on June 23, stating that the vandalism of the two planes, which police said caused an estimated £7 million of damage, was 'disgraceful'.
More than 100 people were arrested across the country during demonstrations this weekend protesting against the proscription, with protests held in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Truro on Saturday.
Saturday's arrests brought the total number of people arrested since the ban came into force to more than 200, with more than 72 arrested across the UK last weekend and 29 the week before.
The hearing before Mr Justice Chamberlain is due to conclude on Monday.
A decision may be given at the end of the hearing, or in writing at a later date.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Murder victim's brother welcomes apology personally delivered by police chief
Eugene Thompson's brother Paul was murdered in 1994 by loyalist terrorists. The 25-year-old died after being shot while in a taxi in the area of Springfield Park on his way home. Earlier that evening, UDA terrorists are believed to have cut a hole in a peace line fence to access the area which was reported to police. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher delivered an apology to Mr Thompson in hospital in Belfast on Tuesday which acknowledges failures by police. It describes Paul Thompson's murder as 'tragic and senseless', and pays tribute to his brother and mother Margaret, who has since died, for 'great courage and resilience in their journey for the truth about his murder'. Paul Thompson was murdered aged 25 in 1994 (Committee on the Administration of Justice/PA) The apology says the murder has not been the subject of a full and effective investigation in accordance with article two of the European Convention on Human Rights, and accepts a conclusion by the former Historical Enquiries Team that police could have taken steps to provide patrolling in the area after suspicious activity was reported. 'That dedicated action may have prevented Paul's murder,' the apology states. It also acknowledges the original police investigation did not identify or pursue all lines of inquiry and significant disclosure delays at the inquest. 'The police service apologises unreservedly to Eugene for the above failings on the part of policing which impacted adversely both on the delivery of justice for Paul and on his family's quest for the truth,' it said. 'We are committed to improving how we help families and communities impacted by the troubles by being more open, transparent and victim-focused, and by disclosing as much information as we possibly can. 'The police service believes that further information about Paul's murder can safely be released to Eugene and hopes that the pending Supreme Court judgment will allow for this to happen.' The UK government took a legal effort to the Supreme Court to prevent coroner Louisa Fee from disclosing a summary, or gist, of the evidence in a sensitive security force file following an inquest into Mr Thompson's death. A ruling has not yet been made. Mr Thompson welcomed the apology from Mr Boutcher, and said he hopes to see the judgment from the Supreme Court soon. Eugene Thompson received an apology over the handling of the murder of his brother from PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher (PA) 'I thanked Jon Boutcher for coming himself and for acting quickly in delivering the apology from the PSNI after we had asked for it,' he said. 'That's different to the British Supreme Court, who also know my situation, and I had hoped they would have made their judgment by now, but there is no sign of it. 'The apology makes clear the RUC didn't investigate and arrest suspects when they could have and that they could have done things that could have prevented Paul's murder.' Daniel Holder, director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), said Mr Thompson and his mother 'long fought for justice and truth in relation to Paul's murder'. He added: 'The High Court and Court of Appeal ruled over a year ago that Eugene was entitled to see the information in the coroner's 'gist'. 'The Secretary of State appealed the Supreme Court hearing was back at the beginning of June and Eugene is still awaiting the ruling. 'It's welcome that the PSNI chief constable has quickly delivered this apology in relation to the RUC and PSNI failings.' A PSNI spokesperson said: 'The Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher, held a private meeting with Mr Eugene Thompson, the brother of Liam Paul Thompson, during which he provided a statement of apology on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland for failings identified on the part of the RUC and PSNI.'
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Murder victim's brother welcomes apology personally delivered by police chief
Eugene Thompson's brother Paul was murdered in 1994 by loyalist terrorists. The 25-year-old died after being shot while in a taxi in the area of Springfield Park on his way home. Earlier that evening, UDA terrorists are believed to have cut a hole in a peace line fence to access the area which was reported to police. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher delivered an apology to Mr Thompson in hospital in Belfast on Tuesday which acknowledges failures by police. It describes Paul Thompson's murder as 'tragic and senseless', and pays tribute to his brother and mother Margaret, who has since died, for 'great courage and resilience in their journey for the truth about his murder'. The apology says the murder has not been the subject of a full and effective investigation in accordance with article two of the European Convention on Human Rights, and accepts a conclusion by the former Historical Enquiries Team that police could have taken steps to provide patrolling in the area after suspicious activity was reported. 'That dedicated action may have prevented Paul's murder,' the apology states. It also acknowledges the original police investigation did not identify or pursue all lines of inquiry and significant disclosure delays at the inquest. 'The police service apologises unreservedly to Eugene for the above failings on the part of policing which impacted adversely both on the delivery of justice for Paul and on his family's quest for the truth,' it said. 'We are committed to improving how we help families and communities impacted by the troubles by being more open, transparent and victim-focused, and by disclosing as much information as we possibly can. 'The police service believes that further information about Paul's murder can safely be released to Eugene and hopes that the pending Supreme Court judgment will allow for this to happen.' The UK government took a legal effort to the Supreme Court to prevent coroner Louisa Fee from disclosing a summary, or gist, of the evidence in a sensitive security force file following an inquest into Mr Thompson's death. A ruling has not yet been made. Mr Thompson welcomed the apology from Mr Boutcher, and said he hopes to see the judgment from the Supreme Court soon. 'I thanked Jon Boutcher for coming himself and for acting quickly in delivering the apology from the PSNI after we had asked for it,' he said. 'That's different to the British Supreme Court, who also know my situation, and I had hoped they would have made their judgment by now, but there is no sign of it. 'The apology makes clear the RUC didn't investigate and arrest suspects when they could have and that they could have done things that could have prevented Paul's murder.' Daniel Holder, director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), said Mr Thompson and his mother 'long fought for justice and truth in relation to Paul's murder'. He added: 'The High Court and Court of Appeal ruled over a year ago that Eugene was entitled to see the information in the coroner's 'gist'. 'The Secretary of State appealed the Supreme Court hearing was back at the beginning of June and Eugene is still awaiting the ruling. 'It's welcome that the PSNI chief constable has quickly delivered this apology in relation to the RUC and PSNI failings.' A PSNI spokesperson said: 'The Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher, held a private meeting with Mr Eugene Thompson, the brother of Liam Paul Thompson, during which he provided a statement of apology on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland for failings identified on the part of the RUC and PSNI.'
Spectator
an hour ago
- Spectator
Cleverly refuses to back Badenoch on ECHR
Kemi Badenoch might have reached an agreement with James Cleverly about his new role in the shadow cabinet, but it appears the pair remain at odds over the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). On Tuesday afternoon, the Westminster rumour mill ramped up as speculation that Cleverly – a onetime Tory leadership contender – was to make a return to Badenoch's frontbench abounded. In due he course, the announcement came that Cleverly had become the new Conservative housing secretary and, as such, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's opposite number. During last year's Tory leadership race, both Badenoch and Cleverly had opposed leaving the ECHR. However in recent weeks Badenoch's stance has shifted somewhat, with the Conservative party leader stating last month that she is 'increasingly of the view that we will need to leave'. Yet when pressed multiple times on the matter this morning while he was across the airwaves for the morning round, Cleverly would not support his party leader's position. The ex-Foreign Secretary did say, however, that if leaving the ECHR does become Tory party policy, he 'will abide by that'. He went on, telling the Beeb's Radio 4 Today programme that: Well, she has commissioned a review by the shadow attorney general and it is right that we look at this. It was incredibly frustrating when I was trying to deport people and we had judges making what I regarded as completely perverse decisions, leaning on the European court and so it is absolutely right that we look at that. I am going to wait for the outcome of that review. Hardly a full-throated endorsement, eh? Indeed, Cleverly's response raises questions about what exactly the party stance is on the subject – and whether it will officially change any time soon. The issue has already created a clear dividing line between Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Sir Keir Starmer's Labour lot – with Farage's crowd wanting out, while Starmer's army in favour of remaining. Sound familiar, anyone…?
