UK court rules 2025 ban on Palestine Action unlawful, citing free speech and disproportionate arrests.

The UK High Court ruled on February 13, 2026, that the government’s 2025 ban of the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was unlawful, finding it disproportionate and a violation of free speech and assembly rights. The court, led by Judge Victoria Sharp, said the group’s actions did not meet the legal threshold for proscription despite some property damage linked to protests at military and arms sites. While the ban remains in effect pending a potential appeal by the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police will no longer arrest peaceful supporters at demonstrations, shifting to evidence collection. Over 2,000 arrests have occurred since the ban, including teachers, priests, and a retired magistrate. The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between national security and civil liberties in the UK’s counterterrorism framework.