Protesters who have been arrested for allegedly supporting the direct action group Palestine Action have voiced their anger and disappointment following a Court of Appeal decision that upheld the lawfulness of the group's proscription. The ruling on Monday by five judges overturned a High Court judgment from February that had deemed the ban unlawful, reopening the possibility of prosecution for more than 700 individuals already charged under the Terrorism Act.
The reversal means that the immediate prospect of the ban being quashed and prosecutions discontinued, which had appeared feasible after the High Court's initial ruling, is now off the table. Despite this setback, Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, has stated her intention to appeal the latest decision to the Supreme Court, indicating a continued legal challenge against the proscription.
Among those affected is Deborah Hinton, 82, a former magistrate from Truro, Cornwall, who described the judgment as "devastating and shocking." Ms Hinton, who faces potential imprisonment under the Terrorism Act, stated she felt compelled to act, viewing it as her duty to take a stand against what she perceives as a move towards an authoritarian state. She highlighted the perceived misallocation of resources, criticising the expenditure on prosecuting protesters while the country's defence system faces funding challenges.
Many of those arrested were participating in 'Defend Our Juries' demonstrations, holding placards expressing opposition to genocide and support for Palestine Action. Marianne Sorrell, 81, from Wells, Somerset, recounted being held by police for nearly 27 hours, during which officers searched her home. She labelled Monday's judgment a "travesty of justice" and is considering further arrests for the same offence out of protest.
Both Ms Hinton and Ms Sorrell also expressed outrage over the recent lengthy custodial sentences handed down to four Palestine Action activists. These activists were jailed after a judge ruled there was a "terrorist connection" to their actions of damaging equipment at an Israeli arms manufacturer's UK factory. Father John McGowan, 75, arrested at a Parliament Square demonstration, echoed the anger but maintained his resolve, stating his conscience was his judge and he was prepared for prison.
Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr, in her written judgment, stated that the severity of the effects of proscription on individual rights to freedom of expression and assembly were outweighed by the importance of protecting national security and the rights and freedoms of others. This decision has also drawn renewed criticism from human rights organisations, with Amnesty's legal programme director, Tom Southerden, reiterating that the ban constitutes a "grave misuse of sweeping counter-terrorism powers" and is disproportionate.