The group accuses Britain’s government of complicity in what it says are Israeli war crimes in Gaza.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Police officers detained an 89-year-old protester during the rally. (Reuters: Jaimi Joy)<\/p>\n
Its co-founder, Huda Ammori, won a bid to bring a legal challenge against the ban last week.<\/p>\n
Critics, including the United Nations and groups such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, have condemned the move as a legal overreach and a threat to free speech.<\/p>\n
How long can protesters be sentenced?<\/p>\n
The ban makes it a crime to be a member of Palestine Action, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.<\/p>\n
It comes under the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000, and it states a person commits an offence if the person “expresses an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation”.<\/p>\n
It goes on to state:<\/p>\n
“A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable if:<\/p>\n
(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [14] years, to a fine or to both, or(b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.”<\/p>\n
In a post on X, the Met Police said, “anyone who came to Parliament Square today to hold a placard expressing support for Palestinian Action was either arrested or in the process of being arrested”.<\/p>\n
Psychotherapist Craig Bell, 39, was among those holding a placard at the latest event. He said the ban was “absolutely ridiculous”.<\/p>\n
“When you compare Palestine Action with an actual terrorist group who are killing civilians and taking lives, it’s just a joke that they’re being prescribed a terrorist group,” he told AFP.<\/p>\n
Protesters, some wearing black and white scarves and waving Palestinian flags, chanted “hands off Gaza” and held placards with the message “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” at the event.<\/p>\n
The crowd chanted “shame on you” at the police.<\/p>\n
A group called Defend Our Juries, which organised Saturday’s protests and previous demonstrations against the ban, said “unprecedented numbers” had risked “arrest and possible imprisonment” to “defend this country’s ancient liberties”.<\/p>\n
“We will keep going. Our numbers are already growing for the next wave of action in September,” it added.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Protesters who held signs like this were arrested. (Reuters: Jaimi Joy)<\/p>\n
Who has condemned the ban on Palestinian Action?<\/p>\n
Police forces across the UK have made scores of similar arrests since the government outlawed Palestine Action on July 5.<\/p>\n
UN Human Rights chief Volker T\u00fcrk said the ban was “disproportionate and unnecessary”.<\/p>\n
“It appears to constitute an impermissible restriction on those rights that is at odds with the UK’s obligations under international human rights law,” he said.<\/p>\n
Police announced this week that the first three people had been charged in the English and Welsh criminal justice system with supporting Palestine Action following their arrests at a July 5 demonstration.<\/p>\n
Seven people have so far been charged in Scotland, which has a separate legal system.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The United Nations and Amnesty International have condemned the ban and the arrests. (Reuters: Jaimi Joy)<\/p>\n
Amnesty International UK chief executive Sacha Deshmukh wrote to Met Police chief Mark Rowley this week, urging restraint to be exercised when policing people expressing support for Palestine Action.<\/p>\n
“The protesters in Parliament Square were not inciting violence, and it is entirely disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
“The arrest of otherwise peaceful protesters is a violation of the UK’s international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and assembly.”<\/p>\n
A UK court challenge against the decision to proscribe Palestine Action will be heard in November.<\/p>\n
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