Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Palestine Action: to ban or not to ban?
#palestineaction
#freespeech
#righttoprotest
#terrorismlaw
#ukpolitics
The decision to proscribe Palestine Action (PA) as a terrorist organisation has been one of the Labour government’s most contentious decisions – with significant legal, political and social implications.
Justifying the decision, the then home secretary, Yvette Cooper, and the armed forces minister, Luke Pollard, argued that PA’s actions – particularly the spray-painting of military jets at RAF Brize Norton in 2025, reportedly costing millions – posed a serious threat to national security.
Many argue that using terrorism legislation is disproportionate. The proscription of PA is the first time a non-violent direct-action group has been banned under the Terrorism Act 2000. And while Palestine Action’s tactics may well technically meet the statutory criteria for proscription, more contentiously the ban also criminalises ‘encouraging or promoting’ terrorism – in other words, verbal or visual support for the organisation. That means that even minor expressions of support – such as wearing clothing associated with the group – can incur penalties, including up to 14 years in prison or substantial fines. Is this yet another attack on free expression, and could it be expanded to suppress dissent more generally?
Already we have seen mass arrests of grannies, vicars and activists of all ages, all being carted off by the police for holding placards in support of the group. Others suggest that equating a domestic direct-action group like PA with violent terrorist organisations, like Hamas, ISIS or al-Qaeda, relativises the brutality and severity of
Have PA’s actions crossed from legitimate activism into terrorism? What are the implications for proscribing PA on the right to protest, free speech and even our definition of terrorism? Can you oppose proscription while also opposing PA’s aims and tactics or does such an approach amount to apologism for extreme Israelophobic activism?
The speakers on the panel are: Mark Birbeck - founder, Our Fight Dr Ruth Dudley Edwards - journalist; historian; crime novelist; broadcaster; awards include the Crime Writers’ Association Non-Fiction Gold Dagger for Aftermath: The Omagh Bombing and the Families’ Pursuit of Justice Omar Mohamed - writer and activist Tim Scott - executive director, The Freedom Association Dr Jake Wallis Simons - author, Never Again? How the West betrayed the Jews and itself
The chair is: Niall Crowley - designer; writer; former East End pub landlord; co-producer and co-host, Arts First podcast
WORLDwrite is a volunteer-run citizen TV channel that stands up for free speech – no ifs or buts. We film hard-hitting political debates, including panels from the Battle of Ideas festival, tackling taboo topics and defending ordinary people against contempt and censorship.
We train hundreds of young adults every year to shoot the arguments that matter, producing fearless films on politics, democracy, freedom, and global equality.
This is Citizen TV that punches above its weight.
Subscribe for unapologetic documentaries, debate and dissent.
Palestine Action: to ban or not to ban?
#palestineaction
#freespeech
#righttoprotest
#terrorismlaw
#ukpolitics
The decision to proscribe Palestine Action (PA) as a terrorist organisation has been one of the Labour government’s most contentious decisions – with significant legal, political and social implications.
Justifying the decision, the then home secretary, Yvette Cooper, and the armed forces minister, Luke Pollard, argued that PA’s actions – particularly the spray-painting of military jets at RAF Brize Norton in 2025, reportedly costing millions – posed a serious threat to national security.
Many argue that using terrorism legislation is disproportionate. The proscription of PA is the first time a non-violent direct-action group has been banned under the Terrorism Act 2000. And while Palestine Action’s tactics may well technically meet the statutory criteria for proscription, more contentiously the ban also criminalises ‘encouraging or promoting’ terrorism – in other words, verbal or visual support for the organisation. That means that even minor expressions of support – such as wearing clothing associated with the group – can incur penalties, including up to 14 years in prison or substantial fines. Is this yet another attack on free expression, and could it be expanded to suppress dissent more generally?
Already we have seen mass arrests of grannies, vicars and activists of all ages, all being carted off by the police for holding placards in support of the group. Others suggest that equating a domestic direct-action group like PA with violent terrorist organisations, like Hamas, ISIS or al-Qaeda, relativises the brutality and severity of
Have PA’s actions crossed from legitimate activism into terrorism? What are the implications for proscribing PA on the right to protest, free speech and even our definition of terrorism? Can you oppose proscription while also opposing PA’s aims and tactics or does such an approach amount to apologism for extreme Israelophobic activism?
The speakers on the panel are: Mark Birbeck - founder, Our Fight Dr Ruth Dudley Edwards - journalist; historian; crime novelist; broadcaster; awards include the Crime Writers’ Association Non-Fiction Gold Dagger for Aftermath: The Omagh Bombing and the Families’ Pursuit of Justice Omar Mohamed - writer and activist Tim Scott - executive director, The Freedom Association Dr Jake Wallis Simons - author, Never Again? How the West betrayed the Jews and itself
The chair is: Niall Crowley - designer; writer; former East End pub landlord; co-producer and co-host, Arts First podcast
WORLDwrite is a volunteer-run citizen TV channel that stands up for free speech – no ifs or buts. We film hard-hitting political debates, including panels from the Battle of Ideas festival, tackling taboo topics and defending ordinary people against contempt and censorship.
We train hundreds of young adults every year to shoot the arguments that matter, producing fearless films on politics, democracy, freedom, and global equality.
This is Citizen TV that punches above its weight.
Subscribe for unapologetic documentaries, debate and dissent.
