'An assault on free speech' How Palestine Action is set to be proscribed as terrorists

If this interview were to take place in a week's time, Huda Ammori could be arrested by British police.

- By Haroon Siddique

If this interview were published in a week's time the Guardian might also be breaking the law. Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, said she was finding it "very hard to absorb what's the reality of what's happening here." She added: "I don't have a single conviction but if this goes through, I would have co-founded what will be a terrorist organisation." By "this" she means the hugely controversial UK government proposal to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws, which would place it alongside the likes of Islamic State and National Action and be the first time a direct action group has been classified in this way. If the group is proscribed next week, as is expected, being a member of, or inviting support for Palestine Action, would carry a maximum penalty of 14 years.

Wearing clothing or publishing a logo that arouses reasonable suspicion that someone supports Palestine Action would carry a maximum six-month sentence.

As far as the government and campaign groups that have been lobbying ministers are concerned, Palestine Action deserves it. This week, Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, decried the movement's "long history of unacceptable criminal damage", and claimed "its methods have become more aggressive, with its members demonstrating a willingness to use violence".

Beyond the claim and counter claim, the debate over the Palestine Action ban is as much about free speech, and the use of counter-terrorism laws to stop protests.