Palestine Action’s co-founder has won a bid to bring a High Court challenge over the group’s ban as a terror organisation.
The ruling came after the organisation's co-founder, Huda Ammori, sought to contest Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's ban imposed through counter-terrorism legislation.
The ban means that membership of, or support for, the direct action group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Ammori lost a fresh bid for a temporary pause of the ban on the group as a terrorist organisation at the High Court today.
Justice Chamberlain determined on Wednesday that Ammori's legal arguments were "reasonably arguable" and should advance to a full hearing.
The judge specifically identified two grounds that warranted further examination regarding potential breaches of fundamental rights and procedural fairness in the proscription process.
The first successful ground concerned whether the proscription constituted an excessive restriction on Ammori's freedoms of expression and assembly.
Chamberlain said: "That being so, the point will have to be determined at a substantive hearing and it would not be appropriate for me to say more now."
The second ground related to procedural failings, with the judge finding it "reasonably arguable" that Cooper breached natural justice principles by not consulting Palestine Action before imposing the ban.
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The ban means that membership of, or support for, the direct action group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison
|PA
He added: "As a matter of principle, I consider that it is reasonably arguable that a duty to consult arose."
The Government announced the proscription after Palestine Action claimed responsibility for an incident at RAF Brize Norton on June 20, during which two Voyager aircraft sustained damage.
The designation under anti-terrorism legislation carries severe consequences, including potential imprisonment for membership or supporting the direct action group.
Ammori's legal team initiated proceedings earlier this month, characterising the ban as an "unlawful interference" with free speech rights.
Palestine Action’s co-founder has won a bid to bring a High Court challenge over the group’s ban as a terror organisation
| PAThe challenge was heard on July 21, with the judge delivering his decision to permit the judicial review nine days later.
Following the ruling, Ammori said: "This landmark decision to grant a judicial review which could see the Home Secretary's unlawful decision to ban Palestine Action quashed, demonstrates the significance of this case for freedoms of speech, expression and assembly and rights to natural justice in our country and the rule of law itself."
She added: "We will not stop defending fundamental rights to free speech and expression in our country and supporting Palestinian people against a genocide being livestreamed before our eyes."
During the July 21 hearing, Raza Husain KC, representing Ammori, argued that the prohibition had rendered the UK "an international outlier" and was "repugnant".
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: "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."