Police arrest 25 protesters outside the Supreme Court as Palestine Action's co-founder begins her fight to overturn the terror ban
Former government barrister Tim Crosland is among those arrested at the Supreme CourtHuda Ammori, whose barrister told Supreme Court justices that Palestine Action's objectives were "aligned with, rather than abhorrent to liberal democratic values," as she challenges the group's proscription under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori is arguing at the UK Supreme Court that only three of the group's 385 actions over five years met the legal definition of terrorism, making the government's proscription under the Terrorism Act disproportionate. Barrister Raza Husain KC told justices the group's objectives were aligned with liberal democratic values, not abhorrent to them. The two-day hearing will decide whether the ban — the first ever imposed on a protest group not calling for violence against people — should stand.
Separately, four members who smashed up a Burnley Barclays branch with hammers, leaving security guard Daniyaal Fareed trapped inside, were spared jail yesterday.
Lawyers drew comparisons to the suffragettes, telling the court the ban amounts to an assault on freedom of speech and the right to protest.
In the period since the ban took effect last July, arrests have reached 4,200, with those detained including Greta Thunberg, pensioners, a priest and a military veteran.
