UN urges UK to end ‘excessive’ Palestine Action ban

UN Rights Chief Urges UK to Lift Ban on Palestine Action

The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, has strongly condemned the UK’s prohibition on the activist group Palestine Action. Turk deems the ban a “disturbing misuse of counter‑terrorism legislation” and has called for the government to revoke the proscription.

Background of the Ban

• The prohibition was introduced under the Terrorism Act 2000 and became effective earlier this month.
• The ban followed an incident in which members of Palestine Action invaded a Southern England air force base and spray‑painted the skins of two aircraft.
• The defacement caused an estimated £7.0 million (≈ $9.55 million) in damage.

Turk’s Key Concerns

Turk’s statement raised concerns that the United Kingdom is applying counter‑terrorism laws to actions that do not qualify as terrorist conduct. He warned this could hamper the legitimate exercise of fundamental freedoms across the UK.

• Turk explained that, according to international standards, terrorist acts should be confined to criminal acts intending to cause death, serious injury, or hostage taking for intimidation or coercion of a government.
• He highlighted that the ban establishes a criminal offence for membership in Palestine Action, expression of support, or wearing items that would arouse “reasonable suspicion” of affiliation with the group.

Impact on Protesters

Since the ban took effect, at least 200 individuals have been arrested during protests. Many of these arrests have lawfully exercised their rights to peaceful protest. The UN high commissioner for human rights agreed with Turk that the ban is an attack on free speech.

Turk’s Call for Action

Turk urged the UK government to:

• Rescind the decision to proscribe Palestine Action.
• Cease investigations and stop proceeding against protesters who have been booked under the proscription.
• Review and revise the UK’s counter‑terrorism legislation, including its definition of terrorist acts, to fully align with international human rights norms and standards.

He warned that the government’s decision confounds protected expression and other conduct with acts of terrorism, potentially producing a chilling effect on the lawful exercise of these rights by many people.