• Huda Ammori wins court approval to challenge UK government's ban on Palestine Action as a terrorist group.
• The High Court deems the ban potentially infringes on freedom of expression rights.
• The ban, officially enacted in July, carries severe penalties for membership and support.
• The UN's human rights chief expresses concern over the misuse of counter-terrorism laws in this context.
• Palestine Action’s activists claim their actions are forms of legitimate protest against Israeli war crimes.

The UK High Court has granted Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, the right to challenge the government's recent ban on the group under anti-terrorism laws. The court's ruling indicates that the proscription may infringe upon rights guaranteed by common law and the European Convention on Human Rights, specifically Articles 10 and 11, which protect freedom of expression. Justice Martin Chamberlain noted that the arguments presented by Ammori's lawyers were "reasonably arguable," suggesting significant legal concerns around this classification, according to BBC, Reuters, and Anadolu Agency.

The government first announced the ban following a series of direct actions by Palestine Action, including vandalism and the recent break-in at a military airbase that resulted in damaged aircraft. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, stated that such actions justify the group’s classification under the Terrorism Act 2000, making it a crime to be a member or support the group, which can lead to sentences of up to 14 years. However, the court's permission for a judicial review may cast doubt on the government's rationale, as the ruling emphasizes the necessity for prior consultation with the group before enacting such measures, according to TRT World and Al Jazeera.

Since the ban was implemented on July 5, numerous individuals have reportedly been arrested for demonstrating or expressing support for Palestine Action, raising concerns about increasing police scrutiny on activists advocating Palestinian rights. In response to the government's actions, over 400 cultural figures have signed a petition urging the UK to reconsider the ban and to cease arms sales to Israel. The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, has labeled the decision a "disturbing misuse" of counter-terrorism laws and warned it could infringe on fundamental freedoms, highlighting the extensive repercussions of the government's classification, according to Reuters, Anadolu Agency, and Al Jazeera.