UN experts lambast Palestine Action ban
Posted: 14th November 2025
UN experts lambast Palestine Action ban
This week, five UN experts issued a landmark letter saying the UK government’s proscription of Palestine Action is “not justified”, “unnecessary” and violates human rights in a way that is more common in authoritarian states.
The letter, published on 12 November, was signed by UN special rapporteurs Ben Saul, Irene Khan, Gina Romero, and Francesca Albanese, as well as UN independent expert on the promotion of democracy, George Katrougalos.
It comes at an important juncture, with the first six of the “Filton 24” defendants, accused of smashing into an Elbit Systems factory last August, facing a ten-week trial from 17 November.
A judicial review of the UK government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation will also go ahead this month, which could result in the ban being overturned.
“We are concerned at the seemingly unjustified use of counter-terrorism laws against protest activity in a democratic society”, the UN experts wrote.
“In particular, we are concerned that proscription and its consequences result in unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the right to take part in public affairs”, they added.
In more specific terms, the experts noted that mere property damage “is not sufficient to constitute terrorism”, while the proscription of Palestine Action is “not justified based on the isolated acts of a few associated individuals”.
The proscription order, moreover, has permitted “a very wide range of acts which would otherwise be legitimate protest” to become criminal offences, restricting the basic rights of UK citizens.
The experts were particularly concerned about reports that UK police have “invoked the proscription of Palestine Action to threaten to unlawfully arrest peaceful protesters who were not supporting or identifying with Palestine Action in any way”.
In one incident in Kent, armed officers questioned a woman who was waving a Palestine flag and holding a placard condemning the genocide in Gaza. The officers erroneously said this was sufficient evidence to question the woman on “terrorism” offences.
The proscription of Palestine Action could also produce consequences for other “robust protest movements hitherto regarded as unruly but never as terrorist”, the experts warned, including those which focus on climate change, nuclear weapons, and peace.
The UN experts’ letter marked the second major intervention on Britain’s misuse of counter-terror legislation just this week.
On Tuesday, the Independent Commission on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice completed its three-year review into Britain’s use of counter-terror laws.
It found that Britain’s definition of terrorism is too broad and “can create confusion”, advising that proscription measures, such as those used against Palestine Action, “should only be for public protection and lapse after five years unless renewed”.
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