Liberty tells court Palestine Action Proscription was disproportionate

• Liberty submissions put before High Court in Palestine Action case
• Group says proscription was disproportionate use of counter terror powers
• Submissions now in the public domain and available here 

Liberty has intervened in the hearing into the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group at the High Court today (Wednesday 26 November 2025).

The UK’s leading domestic human rights organisation was granted permission to intervene alongside Amnesty International UK, as both organisations have specialist expertise to provide evidence to assist the court in its decision making.

In its application to the court, Liberty criticised the UK’s definition of terrorism as “extremely broad” and warned that the proscription of Palestine Action could pave the way for the wider use of counter terror laws against protestors, undermining people’s right to freedom of expression and freedom of association.

Liberty said the decision to proscribe Palestine Action was disproportionate because:

1. Property damage is not comparable in nature with the sort of activities counter-terror legislation is aimed at – which generally requires intentional violence against people.
2. The aims of the organisation should be considered, with distinction drawn between those with aims which are abhorrent to a human rights respecting society, and those whose aims are for example to uphold international law.
3. Criminalising all people who express support for a group is a substantial interference with freedom of expression – with terror offences carrying severe penalties.

Akiko Hart, Liberty director, said:  

“Liberty has intervened because this case will have profound implications for how counter-terror powers are used against protesters in the future.

“We believe the proscription of a direct-action protest group was disproportionate and exposes the deep flaws in the UK’s counter-terror laws. The decision has created a wider chilling effect that leaves people uncertain about what is, and what isn’t considered an offence once a group is proscribed.

“The UK’s definition of terrorism is extremely broad and far beyond what the wider public understands ‘terrorism’ to mean.”