UK Supreme Court weighs appeal on Palestine Action terror status

The UK Supreme Court began a two-day hearing on November 3, 2026, to decide if Palestine Action remains a designated terrorist organization. The group is appealing a government decision made under anti-terrorism laws. This is the final stage of a legal battle that has moved through several lower courts.

Raza Husain KC, representing co-founder Huda Ammori, told the court that the group’s actions rarely fit the strict legal definition of terrorism. He stated that less than one percent of the organization’s protests qualified under current laws. Husain argued that the focus should be on the substance of the group's actions rather than the label applied to them. He asserted that Palestine Action has never advocated for violence directed at individuals.

The legal team compared Palestine Action to historical movements such as the Suffragettes. Husain noted that while the Suffragettes were not entirely peaceful, they are now widely venerated. He pointed out that these earlier groups used tactics similar to, or even more extreme than, those employed by Palestine Action, including arson and bomb attacks. Yet they were never proscribed as terrorists. Husain also cited anti-war groups, environmentalists, and animal rights protesters who used comparable tactics without facing the same legal designation.

The defense argued that the ban creates a chilling effect on British society. They claimed it impacts freedom of speech and the right to protest. Husain referred to the Filton incident as a watershed moment. He said activists were arrested and treated as terrorists, which came as a shock to the movement and its supporters.

Dozens of activists gathered outside the Supreme Court building to show support. Many risked arrest by holding up signs that quoted posts from Sarah Helm, the wife of national security adviser Jonathan Powell. Helm had criticized the ban after books by Irish author Sally Rooney were withdrawn from UK sale due to her support for the group. Last month, Helm posted, God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action. Protesters customized this message with phrases such as God help us Jews, God help us physiotherapists, and God help us normal people.

Police arrested 25 individuals for holding these placards during the demonstration. Among those taken into custody was actor Alfie Enoch, known for his role in the Harry Potter film series. Robert Del Naja, a musician from the band Massive Attack, was also arrested. The arrests illustrated the intensity of public interest in the case.

The court will consider arguments regarding the group's tactics and their historical context. The decision will determine whether Palestine Action remains a designated terrorist organization in the UK.