Overview

• On July 25, UN human rights chief Volker Türk urged the UK government to revoke its proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000, calling it a "disturbing misuse" of counter-terrorism laws.
• He asserted that international norms limit terrorist acts to those intended to cause death, serious injury or hostage-taking and warned that treating property damage as terrorism overextends those boundaries.
• Since the ban took effect on July 5, police have arrested over 200 people under Section 13 for allegedly supporting the group, many during peaceful protests.
• Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori is pursuing a High Court judicial review to challenge and overturn the proscription order.
• Civil liberties advocates argue the ban conflates lawful dissent with extremism and call for targeted legislation to address property damage without eroding fundamental freedoms.