More than 100 people arrested on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action as judges uphold ban

More than 100 people arrested on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action as judges uphold ban Protestors had gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London where judges today ruled a decision to ban the organisation as a terror group was lawful Police have arrested more than 100 people following a protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London on suspicion of support for Palestine Action. Some 117 people were arrested after protestors gathered outside the court where judges ruled that a decision to proscribe the organisation as a terror group was lawful. Protesters were seen being hauled away by cops, some holding signs which read: “I support Palestine Action.” Meanwhile in a nearby courtroom five Court of Appeal judges ruled that the decision to ban the group, which came into force on July 5 last year, was a “justified and proportionate” interference on people’s right to freedom of expression. In February three judges at the High Court ruled that the then-home secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to ban Palestine Action was unlawful following a challenge from the group’s co-founder, Huda Ammori. This ruling was today overturned by the judges at the Court of Appeal. The ban states that membership of, or support for, the direct action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. It has remained in force as the Home Office have sought to appeal the February ruling, an effort which was successful today. Among the protesters escorted or carried away by police was an elderly woman wearing dark blue scrubs and a sign which said “retired doctor” on her chest. “This means that expressing support for the organisation remains a criminal offence and officers will arrest those who break the law. “Officers policing a protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice today, Monday, 15 June, arrested 117 people on suspicion of expressing support for a proscribed organisation. “A further two people were arrested by colleagues in the City of London Police at a protest outside the Old Bailey. “Since the organisation was proscribed, the Met has arrested over 3,000 people on suspicion of expressing support for Palestine Action.”