03 March 2026
Free Speech, Protest and the High Court’s Ruling on the Proscription of Palestine Action
On 13 February, the High Court of England and Wales ruled that the UK government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action did not follow the government’s own policy and was contrary to the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. The case highlights how proscription, a sweeping power “designed to ensure that an organisation ceases to exist”, significantly affects the rights of people outside the organisation. Given the breadth of the restriction, the court came to the right conclusion and provided an important safeguard for free speech and protest rights. Continue reading >>
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21 August 2025
Palestine Action, Proscription and Proportionality
In July, the UK government has decided to proscribe the organisation Palestine Action. The order means that people are criminalised not just for expressing support for terrorist acts, but for the proscribed organisation. As a result, over 500 people were reportedly arrested at a protest in London on 9 August. Whether the decision pushes anti-terrorism law too far and violates freedom of expression will be assessed by the courts at a later date. If the decision survives a legal challenge, it could pave the way for proscription to be used in relation to a broader range of groups in future. Continue reading >>
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04 February 2022
Terrorism law and the erosion of free speech in the UK
The horrifying nature and unpredictability of terrorist attacks in the past two decades meant that in the UK, the extensions of state power had considerable public support in the years following 9/11. While useful to authorities dealing with an unpredictable threat, there are several factors in the laws that provide a potent recipe to erode expression rights. Continue reading >>
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