THE UN human rights chief has criticised the UK's proscription of Palestine Action.
The Terrorism Act 2000 has recently been amended to include Palestine Action as a proscribed organisation, making membership and support for the group illegal.
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has described the move as a “disturbing” misuse of UK “counterterrorism” legislation.
“The decision appears disproportionate and unnecessary,” he said in a statement.
“It limits the rights of many people involved with and supportive of Palestine Action who have not themselves engaged in any underlying criminal activity but rather exercised their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
“As such, it appears to constitute an impermissible restriction on those rights that is at odds with the UK’s obligations under international human rights law.”
He added: "The decision also conflates protected expression and other conduct with acts of terrorism and so could readily lead to further chilling effect on the lawful exercise of these rights by many people."
The ban means that membership of, or support for, the direct action group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Turk added: “I urge the UK Government to rescind its decision to proscribe [[Palestine]] Action and to halt investigations and further proceedings against protesters who have been arrested on the basis of this proscription.
"I also call on the UK Government to review and revise its counter-terrorism legislation, including its definition of terrorist acts, to bring it fully in line with international human rights norms and standards."
The group’s co-founder Huda Ammori is making a bid to legally challenge Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe the group, announced after the group claimed an action which saw two Voyager planes damaged at RAF Brize Norton on June 20.
On July 4, Ammori failed in a High Court bid to temporarily block the ban coming into effect, with the Court of Appeal dismissing a challenge over that decision less than two hours before the proscription came into force on July 5.
The case returned to the High Court in London on Monday, where lawyers for Ammori asked a judge to grant the green light for a full legal challenge against the decision to ban the group, saying it was an “unlawful interference” with freedom of expression.
The Home Office is defending the legal challenge.
Justice Chamberlain said he would give his decision on July 30.
Veteran protester Sean Clerkin was arrested last week for holding a sign that said “Genocide in Palestine, Time to Take Action” with the words “Palestine” and “Action” enhanced at a demonstration in Glasgow city centre.
Days later, three men were arrested under terror legislation for "showing support for Palestine Action" in Edinburgh.
One man, 78, is known to have worn a T-shirt reading, "Genocide in Palestine, time to take action" at a protest on Saturday, and another man, 58, held a sign near the Scottish Parliament on Monday.
According to Defend Our Juries, the total number of arrests to have taken place in the aftermath of the proscription of Palestine Action hit nearly 200 within a fortnight in the UK.
Last year, the total number of terrorism related arrests in the UK was 248.
A 55-year-old man was also charged in Glasgow last week under suspicion of terror offences for wearing a T-shirt allegedly showing support for Palestine Action.
The Home Office has been approached for comment.
