Judicial review of Palestine Action ban begins today as UK faces scrutiny over crackdown on dissent

London — The judicial review challenging the UK government’s proscription of Palestine Action is being heard today, marking a major test of the state’s expanding counter-terrorism powers at a time of unprecedented public mobilisation against Britain’s role in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Since the group was proscribed as a terror organisation in July 2025, the ban has drawn widespread criticism from legal experts, civil liberties organisations, and grassroots movements, who argue that the designation represents a severe escalation in the criminalisation of conscience-driven protest. The review will assess whether the government acted lawfully in banning an organisation whose actions targeted the UK’s material support for Israel’s military machine.

The Ministry of Justice has replaced Mr Justice Chamberlain who dealt with previous hearings without any explanation at the last minute by a panel of three that includes Judge Victoria Sharp who has connections to pro- Israel lobbyist Trevor Chinn which appears to indicate a conflict of interest. This is an exceptional measure that undermines judicial independence and reinforces our position that the rule of law is under concerted attack by the government particularly in relation to interpretation of anti-terrorism and extremism laws.

The entrenchment of a two-tier justice system which targets and discriminates against Muslims and causes they support has been the core policy of successive governments as part of the War on Terror narrative.

Anas Mustapha, Head of Public Advocacy at CAGE International, said: 

“Over the last two years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the UK has steadily expanded its authoritarian counter-terrorism powers to suppress dissent and insulate itself from public accountability. But the proscription of Palestine Action went beyond the bounds of what the public would tolerate. It backfired precisely because the greater community consciousness has shifted. People could see with their own eyes what is happening in Gaza, and they recognise those acting to stop British participation in such acts.

While it is encouraging that the state has been forced to retreat under the weight of public pressure, we cannot be complacent. As judges now sit to hear the judicial review, we hope they will recognise that the only rational and moral outcome is to deproscribe Palestine Action. If that does in fact happen, it will not be to the credit of the courts, but to the momentum of ordinary people who refused to accept the criminalisation of conscience in action.”

[ENDS]