United Kingdom: High Court rules it illegal to declare Palestine Action a terrorist group

London (United Kingdom), 13 February (LaPresse/AP) – The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the government’s decision to declare the group Palestine Action a terrorist organisation is unlawful. Judges Victoria Sharp, Jonathan Swift and Karen Steyn ruled that the ban will remain in place while the government considers whether to appeal. Last year, the British government declared the pro-Palestinian group a terrorist organisation alongside others such as al-Qaeda and Hamas, making membership or support of Palestine Action a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Since then, more than 2,000 people have been arrested for displaying signs reading “I support Palestine Action”. The government banned Palestine Action after activists stormed a Royal Air Force base in June to protest against British military support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The activists sprayed red paint into the engines of two tanker aircraft and caused further damage with metal levers.