Palestine Action terror ban to go to Supreme Court as 117 arrested at protest

Palestine Action's co-founder can take her case to the Supreme Court after the group's ban was ruled lawful.

The decision by the Supreme Court comes after police arrested 117 people at a protest outside Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday for expressing support for the group.

Five Court of Appeal judges said in June the ban on the group was "justified and proportionate".

It overturned the earlier judgment of three High Court judges who ruled in February that Yvette Cooper's decision to ban Palestine Action was unlawful following a legal challenge from co-founder Huda Ammori.

Read more:
UEFA to boycott World Cup over FIFA plans
Drought declared across the whole of Wales

In a decision published on Thursday, Lord Sales, Lord Leggatt and Lady Simler granted permission for her to appeal to the UK's highest court.

Court records show the case is to be expedited with a hearing expected between October and December.

Following the decision Ms Ammori referenced the arrests, saying: "This further evidences our case that the proscription of Palestine Action has become a vehicle for a far broader crackdown on expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

"This unprecedented attack on free speech and the right to protest in this country is already having a chilling effect at a time when speaking out about Israel's crimes could not be more urgent."

Hundreds had gathered outside the magistrates' court, where more than 2,000 cases related to supporting the group were due to be heard on Thursday.

But the cases were adjourned to October earlier this week.

Court officials confirmed that all cases relating to Palestine Action have been adjourned to await the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal.

Defendants who had travelled from Yorkshire, Wales and Merseyside told officials they had not been told the hearing was not taking place, complaining of "chaos".

Claire Jeffrey, 52, who travelled to the court from Edinburgh claiming she had not been told her hearing had been adjourned, said: "Scotland's a long way. It's expensive to come here, and we have to rearrange commitments.

"It's just really frustrating to… be told you're on a court roll, and then you turn up, and they're like, 'No, you're not'.

"So it's really discombobulating and frustrating."

(c) Sky News 2026: Palestine Action terror ban to go to Supreme Court as 117 arrested at protest