𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Palestine Action will be allowed to challenge its designation as a terror organisation after a bombshell court ruling.

The group’s co-founder, Huda Ammori contested Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe the group under anti-terror laws after the group claimed responsibility for vandalising two RAF miltary planes at Brize Norton.

Earlier this month, lawyers for Ms Ammori asked a judge to allow her to bring a High Court challenge over the ban, describing it as an “unlawful interference” with freedom of expression.

Giving a summary of his judgment, Mr Justice Chamberlain said that one of the arguments that will go on to a full legal challenge was about whether the Home Secretary should have consulted Palestine Action before banning the group.

He said: “It was reasonably arguable that a duty to consult arose and reasonably arguable that there was no compelling reason why consultation could not have been undertaken here.”

Raza Husain KC, for Ms Ammori, told the court at the hearing on July 21 that the ban had made the UK “an international outlier” and was “repugnant”.

Mr Husain added: “The decision to proscribe Palestine Action had the hallmarks of an authoritarian and blatant abuse of power.”

The Home Office is defending the legal action.

Sir James Eadie KC, for the department, said in written submissions that by causing serious damage to property, Palestine Action was “squarely” within part of the terrorism laws used in proscription.

He said: “There is no credible basis on which it can be asserted that the purpose of this activity is not designed to influence the Government, or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.”

Ms Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action on June 23, saying that the vandalism of the two planes, which police said caused an estimated £7 million of damage, was “disgraceful”.

The bid for a full High Court challenge comes after Ms Ammori failed in a previous bid to temporarily block the ban coming into effect, and the Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge over that decision less than two hours before the proscription came into force on July 5.