The co-founder of Palestine Action will find out whether she can bring a legal challenge over the decision to ban the group as a terror organisation. Huda Ammori has made a bid to challenge Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to proscribe the group under anti-terror laws.
The ban was announced after the group claimed responsibility for action in which two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton on 20th June. Membership of, or support for, the direct action group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
High Court challenge hearing
Earlier this month, lawyers for Ammori asked a judge to allow her to bring a High Court challenge over the ban, describing it as an "unlawful interference" with freedom of expression. Mr Justice Chamberlain will give his decision on whether the legal action can proceed on Wednesday.
Raza Husain KC, for Ammori, told the court at the hearing on 21st July that the ban had made the UK "an international outlier" and was "repugnant". Husain added: "The decision to proscribe Palestine Action had the hallmarks of an authoritarian and blatant abuse of power."
Government defence arguments
The Home Office is defending the legal action through Sir James Eadie KC, who said in written submissions that by causing serious damage to property, Palestine Action was "squarely" within part of the terrorism laws used in proscription. He said: "There is no credible basis on which it can be asserted that the purpose of this activity is not designed to influence the Government, or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause."
Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action on 23rd June, saying that the vandalism of the two planes, which police said caused an estimated £7 million of damage, was "disgraceful". The bid for a full High Court challenge comes after Ammori failed in a previous bid to temporarily block the ban coming into effect.
Previous legal attempts
The Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge over that decision less than two hours before the proscription came into force on 5th July. This latest legal action represents Ammori's continued efforts to overturn the Government's classification of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
