Published: 12:42 AM, 14 April 2026
British Home Secretary upset with court’s order on Palestine supporters
Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, won a legal challenge to the home secretary’s decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism laws. The British High Court ruled that the government’s ban was unlawful, “disproportionate” and should be overturned.
Judge Victoria Sharp said that Huda Ammori had won on two of her four grounds of challenge but said the ban would remain to allow further arguments and the government time to submit an appeal. That means it is still a criminal offence to be a member of, or show support for, Palestine Action.
The London High Court ruled that the ban was a disproportionate interference with the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Victoria Sharp said that “Palestine Action is an organization that promotes its political cause through criminality and encouragement of criminality”, but that proscription was still “disproportionate”.
Huda Ammori described the ruling as a “monumental victory” that will be remembered “as one of the most extreme attacks on free speech in recent British history”. Palestine Action activists have called for former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who made the decision to proscribe the group last year, to resign.
The current home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the ruling was “disappointing” and that she will fight to prevent the proscription being lifted affirming “As a former lord chancellor, I have the deepest respect for our judiciary. Home secretaries must however retain the ability to take action to protect our national security and keep the public safe”.
The London Metropolitan Police said it will stop arresting protesters who hold up signs declaring support for Palestine Action in the wake of the ruling. Officers will continue to identify offences and gather evidence of overt support for the group, the Met said, as it acknowledged that the “unusual circumstances” of the high court ruling may cause “some confusion among the public as to what happens next”.
The protest group Defend Our Juries said more than 2,700 people have been arrested for holding up signs supporting Palestine Action since the ban came into effect in July 2025. The group said there was a large police presence outside the high court today but that no one was arrested for holding signs saying they supported Palestine Action.
Conservative MPs said they welcome the government’s intention to appeal against the high court’s ruling. Shadow home secretary Chris Philip said: “There can be no hesitation when public safety and national security are at stake.”
Green party leader Zack Polanski agreed with the ruling and called for charges made against protesters to be dropped. It is time for the government to stop criminalizing the people protesting genocides.
