United Kingdom - July 2025

On 5 July, the government proscribed the pro-Palestinian direct action group Palestine Action under the 2000 Terrorism Act. The proscription order, approved by Parliament on 3 July, makes membership in or support to the group a criminal offense carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. The government cited national security and recent incidents of criminal damage, including to Royal Air Force planes in June, as justification. On 9 August, police arrested 890 people at a London demonstration against the proscription order, the overwhelming majority in connection to the display of Palestine Action posters and 17 on public order offenses. The UN human rights commissioner, Volker Türk, criticized the proscription decision as disproportionate and warned it could harm freedom of expression and assembly. The High Court is set to carry out a full review of the decision in November. Lawyers for the group's co-founder Huda Ammori argued that the decision stifles legitimate protest. 

Sources:  NPR, BBC (1), BBC (2), BBC (3), The Guardian, OHCHR, UK Parliament,  Verfassungsblog, UK Government