UN urges UK to repeal ‘disproportionate’ ban on pro-Palestinian activist group

By AFP and ToI Staff 25 July 2025, 1:36 pm

2 Edit

Supporters of anti-Israel activist group Palestine Action protest outside the High Court in London, July 4, 2025. (Benjamin Cremel / AFP)

The UN rights chief slams Britain’s ban on activist group Palestine Action as a “disturbing” misuse of UK counter-terrorism legislation, and urges the government to rescind its decision.

“The decision appears disproportionate and unnecessary. 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,” Volker Turk says in a statement.

The group was banned earlier this month by the UK over a series of vandalism incidents, including breaking into an Air Force base and damaging planes.