Scotlands Palestine Action group faces denial of right to protest against genocide

Protesters in Edinburgh Challenge Arrests Under Proscription Law

A group of protesters in Edinburgh is challenging their arrests under a law that prohibits support for Palestine Action, a direct action group deemed a terrorist organization by the British government. Defend Our Juries, a civil disobedience campaign, organized a protest on July 19 last year, where Cathy Allen and Justin Kenrick displayed signs opposing genocide and supporting Palestine Action.

Allen was arrested shortly after the protest, making her one of the first in Scotland to be detained for expressing support for what is considered a terrorist group. The two individuals are set to appear before Scotland’s High Court to argue that their arrests violate their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

According to figures obtained by an investigative outlet, 103 reports of terrorism charges associated with Palestine Action have been lodged in Scotland since the Terrorism Act was introduced in 2000. Catherine Smith KC, the advocate general for Scotland, stated that there are currently 54 live prosecutions relating to Palestine Action.

Defend Our Juries claims that 24 people face charges for holding signs similar to Allen’s and an additional 16 individuals face similar charges for wearing T-shirts with messages related to genocide in Palestine. The group argues that the proscription of Palestine Action should not have been implemented.

More than 3,300 people have been arrested across the United Kingdom for opposing the July 2025 ban on Palestine Action. Over 1,200 individuals have been charged with terror-related offenses, sparking concerns among legal experts and rights groups about an illiberal overreach.

Palestine Action is currently fighting the proscription in courts in London. The group’s cofounder, Huda Ammori, appealed the initial ban, which was ruled “unlawful” by the High Court in February. However, the UK is challenging this ruling in the Court of Appeal, with a decision expected on Monday.

In related news, a parallel case in Scotland has been granted permission to proceed, with an initial hearing scheduled for March. The proceedings were paused until Ammori’s case was resolved.

Source: Al Jazeera