UK: Court draws ‘line in the sand’ against misuse of terrorism powers

(Amnesty International) In response to the judgment in the judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action, Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UK’s Law and Human Rights Director, said: “Today’s ruling is a vital affirmation of the right to protest at a time when it has been under sustained and deliberate attack. The High Court’s decision sends a clear message: the government cannot simply reach for sweeping counter‑terrorism powers to silence critics or suppress dissent. We welcome this judgment as an essential check on overreach and a powerful reminder that fundamental freedoms still carry weight in UK law. “We are relieved – and encouraged – that the Court has recognised the dangers of treating direct action as terrorism. This decision halts a pattern of escalating restrictions, aggressive policing tactics, and an ever-expanding definition of what constitutes ‘terrorism’. It draws an important line in the sand against attempts to narrow the democratic space and undermine public confidence in the right to speak out. – UK: Court draws ‘line in the sand’ against misuse of terrorism powers – Amnesty International