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The protest group the UK government wants to brand terrorists
Palestine Action is a direct action protest group that has been targeting weapons manufacturers. This week, Yvette Cooper announced the decision to lay an order to ban them under anti-terrorism laws. This will now be debated and voted on in parliament.
The Guardian's legal affairs correspondent, Haroon Siddique, explains who the group are and why the government's decision is such a surprise. 'They're the first direct protest action group to be classified in such a way,' he says.
The news comes after the organisation targeted an RAF base, spray painting military aircraft, he explains to Nosheen Iqbal. 'While the action at the RAF base was very embarrassing for the government, it's far from the first time that a group has used these kinds of tactics or caused such damage.'
One activist from the organisation, film-maker Saeed Teji Farooqi, explains why he became involved and why he disagrees with the government's decision. He says using terrorism legislation meant to target groups such as Islamic State on a protest group is 'ludicrous'. While at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action on Monday, protesters told Guardian reporter Geneva Abdul of their shock at the move.
Yet, says Siddique, if the vote on the organisation is passed, it could also have a chilling effect on other groups. Greenpeace released a statement in which it said it was a dark day for protest in the UK.
