Latest news with #UKban
News24
03-07-2025
- Politics
- News24
Amnesty backs legal fight as UK moves to terror-list Palestine Action group
The UK government successfully passed legislation through both houses of parliament to ban the Palestine Action campaign group under the Terrorism Act of 2000. The ban was announced after Palestine Action activists broke into a UK air force base and caused an estimated £7 million ($9.55 million) in damage by spraying red paint on two aircraft, among other previous attacks. The group and rights organisations, including Amnesty International, are mounting an urgent legal challenge at the High Court to stop the proscription. A UK government move to ban the Palestine Action campaign group under anti-terror laws cleared parliament on Thursday but faces a court challenge to stop the proscription becoming law. Peers in parliament's House of Lords upper chamber backed the move to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act of 2000 without a vote, a day after MPs approved the legislation. The government announced it would ban Palestine Action after activists from the group broke into an air force base in southern England last week. Two aircraft at the base were sprayed with red paint, causing an estimated £7 million ($9.55 million) in damage. The group has condemned the proposed proscription as an 'unhinged reaction'. An urgent hearing to challenge the ban is set to be held at the High Court in London on Friday. The legal challenge is backed by Amnesty International and other rights groups. The proposed ban on Palestine Action would make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Announcing the clamp-down, interior minister Yvette Cooper listed other attacks by Palestine Action at the Thales defence factory in Glasgow in 2022, and two last year against Instro Precision in Kent, southeast England, and Israel-based Elbit Systems in Bristol, in the country's southwest. Thursday's approval by the Lords came as four Palestine Action activists were remanded in custody over the break-in. Counter-terror police on Wednesday charged the four suspects with 'conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.' Prosecutors will argue the offences were terror-linked. Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29, Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 35, Jony Cink, 24, and Lewie Chiaramello, 22, appeared at London's Westminster Magistrate's Court. They were remanded in custody until their next appearance at London's Old Bailey criminal court on 18 July. A 41-year-old woman who was arrested 'on suspicion of assisting an offender' has been released on bail.
CNN
02-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
UK lawmakers vote to ban pro-Palestinian activist group under anti-terror law despite condemnation
UK lawmakers voted Wednesday to ban Palestine Action, a UK-based group that aims to disrupt the operations of weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government. Members of Parliament voted 382 to 26 in favor of the measure against the group after two Palestine Action activists broke into Britain's largest air base in central England, damaging two military aircraft. The draft proscription order will reach the House of Lords on Thursday. If approved by the upper house, the ban would go into effect in the following days. A full ban would mean that it would be illegal under UK law to be a member of – or invite support for – Palestine Action. It would put the group on par with terrorist organizations such as Hamas, al Qaeda and ISIS – sparking condemnation from United Nations experts, human rights groups, and politicians. British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the government's intention to proscribe the group on June 23, after two Palestine Action activists sprayed red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers. Video from the scene showed activists spraying red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers, which the group said were targeted for their alleged role in carrying military cargo and for their use in refueling Israeli, American and British military aircraft. A Ministry of Defence source told CNN at the time that RAF Voyagers do not carry anything for the Israeli forces or refuel Israeli aircraft. Palestine Action announced on Monday that it had started legal proceedings against the government's decision. The group's co-founder Huda Ammori said the clampdown mirrored 'many authoritarian regimes around the world who have used counter-terrorism to crush dissent.' If the ban goes into effect, it would likely be the first time in UK history that a direct action protest group has been proscribed under anti-terror legislation, according to several human rights advocates. Those who defy the ban could face up to 14 years in prison, according to UK counter-terrorism police and the government. Even wearing items of clothing which 'arouse reasonable suspicion' that an individual is a member or supporter of the group could result in six months in prison or a fine, police say. Human rights organisations have vehemently criticised the government's move, saying it is the latest in a series of draconian measures taken by the state to clamp down on legitimate protest in the country. Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK chief executive, said on June 23 that proscribing Palestine Action could risk an 'unlawful interference' with the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. She wrote to parliamentarians on Tuesday to warn that outlawing the group would be a 'grave misuse of anti-terrorism powers.' 'Proscribing Palestine Action will mean that by the weekend, millions of people living in the UK will have limitations on their freedom of speech,' she said. Experts from the United Nations also added to the growing chorus of criticism on Tuesday, saying they were worried about the 'unjustified labelling of a political protest movement as 'terrorist'.' Others have previously shared messages of solidarity with the group: 'We are all Palestine Action,' Labour MP Zarah Sultana posted June 24 on X. Former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the government's proscription plan was 'not what the counter terrorism laws were introduced for.' Palestine Action called the government's reaction to its air base action 'unhinged.' 'The real crime here is not red paint being sprayed on these war planes, but the war crimes that have been enabled with those planes because of the UK Government's complicity in Israel's genocide,' the group said in a statement on June 24. CNN's Kara Fox contributed to this report. This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNN
02-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
UK lawmakers vote to ban pro-Palestinian activist group under anti-terror law despite condemnation
UK lawmakers voted Wednesday to ban Palestine Action, a UK-based group that aims to disrupt the operations of weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government. Members of Parliament voted 382 to 26 in favor of the measure against the group after two Palestine Action activists broke into Britain's largest air base in central England, damaging two military aircraft. The draft proscription order will reach the House of Lords on Thursday. If approved by the upper house, the ban would go into effect in the following days. A full ban would mean that it would be illegal under UK law to be a member of – or invite support for – Palestine Action. It would put the group on par with terrorist organizations such as Hamas, al Qaeda and ISIS – sparking condemnation from United Nations experts, human rights groups, and politicians. British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the government's intention to proscribe the group on June 23, after two Palestine Action activists sprayed red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers. Video from the scene showed activists spraying red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers, which the group said were targeted for their alleged role in carrying military cargo and for their use in refueling Israeli, American and British military aircraft. A Ministry of Defence source told CNN at the time that RAF Voyagers do not carry anything for the Israeli forces or refuel Israeli aircraft. Palestine Action announced on Monday that it had started legal proceedings against the government's decision. The group's co-founder Huda Ammori said the clampdown mirrored 'many authoritarian regimes around the world who have used counter-terrorism to crush dissent.' If the ban goes into effect, it would likely be the first time in UK history that a direct action protest group has been proscribed under anti-terror legislation, according to several human rights advocates. Those who defy the ban could face up to 14 years in prison, according to UK counter-terrorism police and the government. Even wearing items of clothing which 'arouse reasonable suspicion' that an individual is a member or supporter of the group could result in six months in prison or a fine, police say. Human rights organisations have vehemently criticised the government's move, saying it is the latest in a series of draconian measures taken by the state to clamp down on legitimate protest in the country. Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK chief executive, said on June 23 that proscribing Palestine Action could risk an 'unlawful interference' with the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. She wrote to parliamentarians on Tuesday to warn that outlawing the group would be a 'grave misuse of anti-terrorism powers.' 'Proscribing Palestine Action will mean that by the weekend, millions of people living in the UK will have limitations on their freedom of speech,' she said. Experts from the United Nations also added to the growing chorus of criticism on Tuesday, saying they were worried about the 'unjustified labelling of a political protest movement as 'terrorist'.' Others have previously shared messages of solidarity with the group: 'We are all Palestine Action,' Labour MP Zarah Sultana posted June 24 on X. Former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the government's proscription plan was 'not what the counter terrorism laws were introduced for.' Palestine Action called the government's reaction to its air base action 'unhinged.' 'The real crime here is not red paint being sprayed on these war planes, but the war crimes that have been enabled with those planes because of the UK Government's complicity in Israel's genocide,' the group said in a statement on June 24. CNN's Kara Fox contributed to this report. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Al Jazeera
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Palestine Action calls UK ban 'terrifying' for civil liberties
Palestine Action calls UK ban 'terrifying' for civil liberties NewsFeed A spokesperson for UK activist group Palestine Action says the government's move to ban it is 'genuinely terrifying' for civil liberties in the UK. Video Duration 02 minutes 22 seconds 02:22 Video Duration 02 minutes 02 seconds 02:02 Video Duration 00 minutes 44 seconds 00:44 Video Duration 00 minutes 18 seconds 00:18 Video Duration 00 minutes 46 seconds 00:46 Video Duration 01 minutes 26 seconds 01:26 Video Duration 00 minutes 50 seconds 00:50
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
UK ban South Africa tough politician Julius Malema from di kontri
United Kingdom don permanently ban South African politician Julius Malema entry into di UK. Di UK Home Office tok say dem see di controversial politician 'non-conducive to di public good', as dem cite im support for Hamas and im past comments about white pipo for South Africa. Dis na di second time in two months UK go deny South Africa opposition leader entry into di kontri - but dem tell BBC say dis decision dey 'valid'. We still dey update dis tori!
