The UN human rights chief on Friday raised serious concerns over the UK’s decision to ban the protest group Palestine Action under terrorism legislation, warning it is a “disturbing misuse” of counter-terrorism laws and risks undermining fundamental freedoms.
The UK proscribed Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 after members broke into a military airfield in June and spray-painted two aircraft.
Volker Turk said in a statement: “UK domestic counter-terrorism legislation defines terrorist acts broadly to include ‘serious damage to property’. But, according to international standards, terrorist acts should be confined to criminal acts intended to cause death or serious injury or to the taking of hostages.
“It misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism to expand it beyond those clear boundaries,”
The UK’s ban makes it a criminal offence to be a member of Palestine Action, express support for it, or wear clothing suggesting affiliation. The crime of supporting a proscribed group is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
“The decision appears disproportionate and unnecessary, Turk said.
“It limits the rights of many people who have not themselves engaged in any underlying criminal activity but rather exercised their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”
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Turk urged the UK government to rescind the proscription, halt related investigations, and revise its counter-terrorism laws.
“The decision also conflates protected expression and other conduct with acts of terrorism and so could readily lead to further chilling effects on the lawful exercise of these rights by many people,” he warned.
Since the ban came into effect on July 5, at least 200 people have reportedly been arrested under the Terrorism Act, many during peaceful protests, according to the human rights office.
Mass arrests and civil disobedience
Following the designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist group, hundreds have been arrested amid nationwide protests where activists have continued to express support for the outlawed group.
On July 20, more than 100 people were arrested during protests. Demonstrations took place in London, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh and Truro, with protesters holding placards reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
The largest protest occurred in Westminster, where the Metropolitan Police confirmed 55 arrests under the Terrorism Act for displaying pro-Palestine Action signs.
Witnesses said the arrests took place near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, with around 20 police vans present. Several elderly individuals were among those detained, including a woman in her 80s using a walking stick. Some were led away while others were physically carried by officers.
These types of demonstrations defying the law have occurred on a weekly basis since the designation entered into law.
More recently, a council in Northern Ireland has gone against its own legal advice and voted to call for charges to be dropped against people arrested for supporting Palestine Action.
Derry City and Strabane District Council is understood to be one of the first local authorities in the UK to back such a motion.
People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin, who proposed the motion, said tens of thousands of people had been “killed and slaughtered” in Gaza and Palestinian children were being “starved to death.”
The government, he said, was “complicit in this” and would “reap the whirlwind.”
He said the banning of Palestine Action was a “ridiculous use of legislation” which could end up in peaceful people being put in prison.
“If you go out and oppose genocide, you are going to be done for supporting a terrorist organisation,” she said.
But DUP councillor Niree McMorris said it was “absurd” for the council to go against their own legal advice.
British police have repeatedly warned pro-Palestine protesters against defying the law and have released information about the laws regarding support for banned groups. The police have also vowed to continue enforcing the law.
