Police arrest 27 protesters outside the Supreme Court as Palestine Action's co-founder begins her appeal against 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 told the UK Supreme Court on Wednesday that the group's proscription under terrorism law has caused a "crisis in confidence" and sparked 4,000-plus arrests of protesters simply holding up signs of support. Lawyers argued that only three of 385 Palestine Action actions over five years met the legal definition of terrorism, and that banning a protest group on that basis was a disproportionate attack on free speech.
Lawyers compared Palestine Action's tactics to the suffragettes, arguing arson-committing suffragettes were never designated terrorists.
Demonstrators outside court mirrored the wording of a post by Sarah Helm, wife of national security adviser Jonathan Powell, to challenge why she faced no arrest.
Harry Potter actor Alfred Enoch was among those protesting, holding a sign reading 'this is democracy not terrorism' as others were carried to police vans.
