Full Breakdown
Public Figures Rally Behind Palestine Action Ahead of UK Court of Appeal
4/25/2026, 11:07:52 AM
Letter to the Court of Appeal
On 24 April 2026, more than 130 public figures submitted a single-sentence declaration to the UK Court of Appeal: “We oppose genocide, we support Palestine Action.” The letter, signed by 132 individuals, is addressed to the appeal hearing scheduled for 28-29 April 2026 that will decide whether the government’s proscription of the direct-action protest group Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act is lawful.
Background: Ban and Legal Battles
The Home Office proscribed Palestine Action as a “terrorist organisation” in July 2025, placing it alongside Hezbollah and al-Qaida. The designation criminalises membership and public support, with penalties of up to 14 years’ imprisonment. In February 2026, three senior High Court judges ruled the ban unlawful and disproportionate, but ordered it to remain in force pending appeal. Following the judgment, the Metropolitan Police initially halted arrests of demonstrators, then reversed course in April 2026, detaining more than 500 people at a protest. Over 3,000 arrests have been recorded for displaying the slogan “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
Key Signatories and Their Roles
- Sally Rooney – Irish novelist, author of *Normal People*; cancelled a UK award ceremony over fear of arrest.
- Greta Thunberg – Swedish climate activist; arrested in December 2025 for holding a pro-Palestine Action sign.
- Judith Butler – American philosopher and gender theorist.
- Charles Secrett – Former director of Friends of the Earth (UK).
- Peter Hallward – Professor of modern European philosophy, Kingston University.
- Neve Gordon – International law professor, Queen Mary University of London.
Timeline of the Controversy
- July 2025 – Government proscribes Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
- December 2025 – Greta Thunberg arrested during a pro-Palestine Action demonstration.
- February 2026 – High Court declares the ban unlawful and disproportionate.
- Early April 2026 – Metropolitan Police resume arrests; >500 detained at a protest.
- 24 April 2026 – Letter with 132 signatures released to the Court of Appeal.
- 28-29 April 2026 – Court of Appeal hearing on the government’s appeal.
Data & Statistics
- 132 signatories on the letter.
- >3,000 prior arrests for displaying the group’s slogan.
- >500 arrests at an April 2026 protest.
- Up to 14 years imprisonment for supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation.
Why It Matters: Free Speech and Terrorism Laws
The case tests the scope of the UK’s counter-terrorism legislation when applied to non-violent political protest. A ruling that upholds the ban could broaden the definition of “terrorist activity” to include peaceful placard-carrying, while a reversal could reaffirm protections for expressive dissent.
Official Statements & Responses
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood publicly disagreed with the High Court, stating she “disagrees with the ruling that banning this terrorist organisation is disproportionate.” The three High Court judges, while finding the ban unlawful, ordered it to stay in effect pending appeal. The Metropolitan Police have justified the recent arrests as enforcement of the existing proscription.
Criticism & Opposition
Charles Secrett warned that “Orwell warned that the first step towards tyranny is the abuse and misuse of language by an authoritarian government,” condemning the government’s “perverted interpretation of the word ‘terrorist.’” Peter Hallward described the situation as “absurd and contradictory,” arguing it cannot endure. Neve Gordon accused the government of “silencing the messenger.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Greta Thunberg’s December 2025 arrest and Sally Rooney’s cancelled UK trip illustrate personal risks faced by signatories. Police actions in April 2026 resulted in mass detentions of demonstrators holding the same slogan the letter defends.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The High Court deemed the ban “disproportionate,” whereas the Home Secretary maintains it is justified, creating a direct legal contradiction. No independent audit of the police’s arrest criteria has been released, leaving the evidentiary basis for the prosecutions unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We oppose genocide, we support Palestine Action.” — Signatories of the letter
- “Labour’s perverted interpretation of the word ‘terrorist’ in designating Palestine Action and its supporters as terrorists is a case in point.” — Charles Secrett, former Friends of the Earth director
- “This absurd and contradictory situation clearly cannot last much longer. And if enough people are prepared to defy such an incoherent and unjustifiable law, then we may be able to persuade the government that it’s neither legitimate nor enforceable.” — Peter Hallward, professor, Kingston University
- “silencing the messenger” — Neve Gordon, international law professor, Queen Mary University of London
- “that banning this terrorist organisation is disproportionate” — Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary
What’s Next
The Court of Appeal will hear arguments on 28-29 April 2026. A decision could either reaffirm the ban, extending the reach of terrorism legislation over peaceful protest, or overturn it, restoring broader free-speech protections. Both outcomes will shape future activism and legal standards for dissent in the United Kingdom.
