UK judge rejects bid to block ban on Palestine Action under terror laws

Palestine Action co-founder sought to block UK terror ban ahead of legal challenge, but court rejected the request.

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A High Court judge in London on Friday threw out an attempt to derail a government ban of the Palestine Action campaign group under anti-terror laws.

The proscription, due to come into force at midnight (2300 GMT Friday), cleared parliament on Thursday but faced a court challenge to try to stop it becoming law.

The government announced last week it would ban Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000, days after activists from the group broke into an air force base in southern England.

Two aircraft at the base were sprayed with red paint, causing an estimated £7 million ($9.55 million) in damage.

Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, had asked the High Court to temporarily block the government from banning the group as a terrorist organisation ahead of a potential legal challenge against the decision to proscribe it.

But dismissing the legal challenge, which was backed by Amnesty International and other rights groups, judge Martin Chamberlain said that an assessment on whether to ban the group had been made as early as March, and "preceded" the air base break-in.

Four Palestine Action activists were remanded in custody on Thursday after appearing in court.

Counter-terror police a day earlier charged the four suspects with "conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage".

Prosecutors will argue the offences were terror-linked.

Palestine Action has condemned the proscription as an attack on free speech.

The ban will make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.