The Guardian
UK’s highest court gives permission for Huda Ammori to challenge court of appeal ruling
The co-founder of Palestine Action has won permission to challenge the ban against the group at the UK’s highest court.
The direct action group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in July last year but its co-founder, Huda Ammori, has been fighting to have the ban overturned amid a mass civil disobedience campaign.
In February, the high court ruled that the ban was disproportionate and unlawful but its decision was overturned by the court of appeal last month.
On Thursday, the supreme court said Ammori could appeal against the court of appeal’s decision and that the case would be heard in the final quarter of this year.
It means the fate of more than 3,500 people who have been arrested for alleged support of Palestine Action since the ban remains in limbo as their cases are on hold until the legality of proscription has been definitely resolved.
Ammori welcomed the supreme court’s decision, saying: “The proscription of Palestine Action has become a vehicle for a far broader crackdown on expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
“This unprecedented attack on free speech and the right to protest in this country is already having a chilling effect at a time when speaking out about Israel’s crimes could not be more urgent.”
She appealed directly to the supreme court to hear the case after the court of appeal’s decision refused permission to appeal against its own decision within hours of the application.
The court of appeal review was comprised of five judges, which is unusual as it normally consists of two or three. It included the country’s two most senior judges: the lady chief justice, Sue Carr, and the master of the rolls, Geoffrey Vos.
