A judge at Scotland's highest civil court has granted permission for a judicial review challenging the ban on Palestine Action. Lord Young ruled Tuesday to allow the legal challenge to proceed, setting the stage for a substantive hearing in March that could overturn the group's proscription as a terror organization.
The decision follows a petition brought by ex-diplomat Craig Murray, represented by Joanna Cherry KC at a hearing earlier this month. A procedural hearing is scheduled for February 23, with a two-day substantive hearing set for March 17 and 18.
Palestine Action was banned in July last year under anti-terror laws by former home secretary Yvette Cooper. The proscription has curtailed freedoms of expression and assembly protected under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Court of Human Rights.
Constitutional Significance
Joanna Cherry KC told the court on January 12: «This is a case of great constitutional significance which impacts on fundamental liberty and human rights of people living and working in Scotland. Generally, people enjoy the freedoms of expression and assembly set out in Articles 10 and 11 set out in the European Court of Human Rights; this proscription has curtailed those liberties and Your Lordship will see from affidavits the impact that this proscription has had on many otherwise law abiding people.»
Reactions to the Decision
The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) welcomed the judgment as a potential step to halt what it called "escalating madness." Mick Napier of SPSC said: «This judgment is doubly welcome. It offers real hope that the judicial review scheduled for March 17–18 will halt this escalating madness by challenging the wholesale arrests of peaceful protesters.»
He added: «Hats off to Craig Murray and everyone who helped promote this effort, even when it appeared to have only a slim chance of success.»
Scottish Green justice spokeswoman Maggie Chapman commented: «Peaceful protest and solidarity should never be a crime, and nor should defending the right of others to protest peacefully. I hope that this decision will be a crucial step in overturning this ridiculous anti-democratic law.»
The UK Government has been approached for comment.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
