On Wednesday, the British parliament voted to criminalize the activist network Palestine Action. This decision marks a powerful change in the government’s stance toward counter-terrorism legislation. If enacted, the proposed ban would constitute a historic first in the UK. It would mark the first time a direct action protest group has been banned under anti-terror laws.
Palestine Action is a grassroots direct-action network founded in the UK in 2020 with a singular goal of shutting down business interests’ operations supporting the Israeli government’s bullying. The group’s latest stunt reportedly involves spraying red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers. They especially focused on these aircraft for their suspected role in moving military associated cargo. In addition, they were tied to air-to-air refuelling for military aircraft from Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The consequences of this ban would be devastating. If this proposal goes through, membership of Palestine Action will be illegal under UK law. Focusing on supporting the organization’s efforts will be forbidden. To those who would defy the ban awaits the threat of criminalization with prison sentences of up to 14 years. If you’re wearing things to show your sympathy to Palestine Action it can be more extreme. Otherwise, you could be subject to criminal penalties of up to six months imprisonment or a $25,000 fine.
Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, condemned the decision. She added that the country’s clampdown is more akin to moves from most authoritarian regimes around the globe that weaponize counter-terrorism to stifle dissent. Ammori expressed her fears in an open letter to members of parliament. She argued that outlawing the group would constitute a shocking abuse of anti-terrorism powers.
The government’s decision to ban Palestine Action has been condemned by several major human rights organizations, including Amnesty International. These plans would unlawfully interfere with fundamental rights, warned Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK. These rights involve fundamental freedoms, such as the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression.
John McDonnell, a prominent politician, echoed similar sentiments, noting that the situation was “not what the counter-terrorism laws were introduced for.”
In anticipation of the ban, Palestine Action activists held a protest outside the UK Town of Brandon. They displayed a banner reading “Palestine Action” while releasing smoke flares, showcasing their commitment to their cause amid rising governmental pressure.
The group’s actions are often classified as direct action protests aimed at holding the UK government accountable for its complicity in conflicts abroad. They claim that their tactical interventions speak to larger moral questions beyond simple street hijacking or vandalism. As one statement from Palestine Action articulated, “The real crime here is not red paint being sprayed on these war planes, but the war crimes that have been enabled with those planes because of the UK Government’s complicity in Israel’s genocide.”
Debates over the ban have moved quickly. Whatever the future may hold it’s going to be fascinating to watch the impact that this decision has on Palestine Action and the broader activism landscape in the UK. By adding protections for governments’ interactions with these protest movements, this legislation would establish a new standard. It can affect the way they implement counter-terrorism laws.
