More than 100 protesters were arrested in London following a Court of Appeal ruling that upheld the government’s ban on the group Palestine Action, designating it as a terrorist organisation. The decision, announced on June 15, overturned a previous High Court judgment from February that had found the proscription to be disproportionate.

The group was originally outlawed under the Terrorism Act 2000 by then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in July 2025. The Court of Appeal, composed of five judges including Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, found that the ban was “justified and proportionate” and struck an appropriate balance between safeguarding national security and protecting freedom of expression. The court rejected comparisons drawn by supporters between Palestine Action and historical protest movements such as the suffragettes, describing such parallels as “seriously flawed.”

In a statement, Baroness Carr noted the controversial nature of proscribing the organisation and acknowledged that Palestine Action has support from lawful citizens. However, the ruling emphasised that the group “overtly promotes unlawful violence amounting to terrorism,” which justified the government’s actions. The decision underscored the wide discretion afforded to the Home Secretary in deciding to proscribe the organisation.

Following the ruling, the Metropolitan Police arrested 117 individuals near the Royal Courts of Justice, while two others were detained close to the Old Bailey. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the judgment confirmed that expressing support for Palestine Action remains a criminal offence and that officers will take action against those violating the law. Since the ban came into effect, more than 3,000 suspected supporters of the group have been arrested.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the proscription, stating that the court had determined Palestine Action engaged in acts of terrorism and that the group’s activities do not align with democratic values or the rule of law.

Conversely, Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, announced plans to challenge the ruling further by taking the matter to the Supreme Court. Ammori described the ban as “one of the most extreme attacks on free speech and the right to protest in modern British history” and affirmed the group’s intention to continue opposing the proscription.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between government efforts to counter terrorism and the rights of groups engaged in activism and protest. The debate surrounding Palestine Action’s classification and the limits of lawful dissent remain contentious as legal proceedings continue.