London, 13th February 2026 – Today, the High Court has ruled that the UK Government’s decision to ban Palestine Action and proscribe it under anti-terror laws was unlawful and disproportionate. The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) welcomes the Court’s decision as a victory for freedom of expression and civil liberties in the UK.
This is a common-sense ruling that reinforces a core democratic principle: peaceful political expression and solidarity, however strongly expressed, must not be conflated with terrorism. The judgment sends a strong signal that the rule of law remains paramount, and that civil liberties in Britain are not optional — they are protected rights.
The decision to proscribe Palestine Action in the first place must be placed within a wider context of a UK crackdown on civil liberties, especially relating to pro-Palestinian expression. The Government has expressed its intention to scrap juries and to severely curtail protest rights under the Crime and Policing Bill.
In reaching its decision, the Court found that there was “a very significant interference” with the rights to freedom of speech, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association and that the then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action was “not consistent with her own policy.” Today’s judgement makes it abundantly clear that the government overstepped its limits and that the protection of fundamental rights cannot be cast aside for political convenience.
While we welcome the Court’s decision, the Government’s continued efforts to criminalise those opposing genocide rather than ending the UK’s complicity in Israeli war crimesagainst Palestinians is emblematic of its flawed hierarchy of priorities.
The new Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has expressed her intention to “fight” today’s judgement. This is a shocking and deeply misguided decision that may suit her political outlook, but does not act in the public interest.
In an even more farcical and frankly embarrassing development for the government, the Metropolitan Police have issued a statement saying that they will stop arresting people for support for Palestine Action.
ICJP calls on the Government to accept the common-sense ruling of the High Court and to uphold, as today’s judgement does, the fundamental rights of people in Britain standing in solidarity with Palestinians and opposing genocide.
ICJP’s Head of Public Affairs and Communications Jonathan Purcell said:
“The High Court has ruled the government’s proscription of Palestine Action unlawful and disproportionate — a common sense ruling that is on the side of free speech and civil liberties. This judgment affirms that people in Britain standing in solidarity with Palestinians must have their fundamental rights protected, irrespective of whether or not that is politically convenient for the government.
But the farce continues. The Government plans on appealing rather than respecting the ruling, even as the Metropolitan Police say they’ll stop enforcing it. They continue to focus their efforts on criminalising those opposing genocide rather than ending the UK’s complicity in war crimes.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
- For more information, or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the ICJP news desk at [email protected].
Image: indigonolan via Wikimedia Commons
