Palestine Action to challenge UK government's proposed ban

UK CAMPAIGN group Palestine Action this week said it would challenge its planned proscription as a terrorist group, as the British government said it could be banned by the end of the week.

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The government announced last week plans to designate the pro-Palestinian group as a terrorist organisation after its activists broke into a British air force base and vandalised two planes.

The group, which has condemned the move as an attack on free speech, said an urgent hearing to challenge the proscription will be held at the High Court in London last week.

The challenge was backed by Amnesty International and other rights groups.

Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, said in a statement the proposed ban would have “far-reaching implications” on “fundamental freedoms of speech, expression and assembly in Britain”.

After announcing the measure last week, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper launched the process to ban the group this week in parliament.